Countess is a new dual-purpose cherry-plum. The fruits are large by cherry-plum standards, in fact similar to a good-sized plum. They have a rich and very sweet flavour - and a better eating quality than most mirabelles and cherry plums.
Like other cherry plums and mirabelles, Countess is also good for cooking and preserving.
This is a semi-freestone fruit - the flesh sticks to the stone but is easily removed.
The fruits ripen in early July in southern England - they ripen quite quickly, turning from orange to deep crimson within a few days. Pick them as soon as this starts to happen if you want to cook with them, or leave them for a few more days if you want to eat them fresh. It is difficult to judge the ripeness by touch alone as they remain quite firm even when fully ripe.
All pot-grown trees are suitable for planting out in the garden, some are suitable for growing in containers.
Call us on 01759 392007 or fill in our contact form.
Order now for delivery from week commencing 14th October for pot grown trees or December for bare-root or mixed tree orders.
Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.
Countess usually flowers profusely, and is partially self-fertile. Its flowering season is very early, typically late February or early March in the south of England. The blossom appears on bare-branches, just before the leaves come out, and is an impressive sight.
Countess produces lots of blossom and flowers over an extended period, so is a good pollinator for early-flowering cherry-plums, and related plum species such as pluots and Japanese plums.
Countess was developed in Ukraine. Some authorities classify this variety with the mirabelles (Prunus insititia) but it is actually a hybrid variety and its flowering and ripening periods make it closer to the cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera).
Unlike many garden centres and online retailers, the vast majority of our fruit trees are grown in the UK. Find out more.
In addition, all our trees are certified under the Plant Healthy scheme, supervised by the Plant Health Alliance.
Other stakeholders include Defra and the RHS. The scheme aims to improve UK biosecurity by setting standards
for all growers and retailers involved in selling plants in the UK.
Find out more
When you buy your fruit tree from Orange Pippin Fruit Trees we guarantee it for the first season in your garden whilst it gets established. If it doesn't grow successfully, we'll either replace it the following season or offer a refund - subject to some conditions. Find out more.
This variety description was researched and written by Orange Pippin staff. Last checked: 2024.