Summer 2024Pre-orders are now open. Deliveries will begin again in September for pot grown trees and December for bare-rooted or mixed tree orders.
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King of the Damsons damson trees

Prunus insititia
King of the Damsons is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Late
  • Self-fertility: Self-fertile
A traditional 19th century English damson from Nottinghamshire. Also widely-known as Bradley's King.

King of the Damsons damson trees for sale

Pot-grown

All pot-grown trees are suitable for planting out in the garden, some are suitable for growing in containers.

  • PG12-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree St. Julien rootstock £60.50
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • PG2Premium half-standard 12L pot-grown tree St. Julien rootstock £64.50
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)

Bare-root

  • BR11-year bare-root tree St. Julien rootstock £38.75
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR22-year bush-trained bare-root tree St. Julien rootstock £47.50
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR32-year half-standard bare-root tree St. Julien rootstock £51.00
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
Next deliveries

You can pre-order now, deliveries start in September.

Delivery charges

Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95. It is calculated when you add trees to your basket, based on your postcode.

King of the Damsons, also known as Bradley's King, is a large-fruited traditional purple-blue damson which ripens in September.

The flavour is less astringent and slightly milder than other damsons.  The flesh is also fairly dry, which is useful in cooking because it avoids too much liquid getting into the mix.

Unusually amongst damsons, this is a freestone fruit - the stone falls away cleanly from the flesh.

How to grow

King of the Damsons is suitable for most areas of the UK.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

History

Bradley's King was introduced by a Mr Bradley of Nottingham in the 1880s. It is often known as the King of the Damsons on account of the large fruit size.

King of the Damsons characteristics

Growing

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Self-fertilitySelf-fertile
  • Flowering group2
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesMild damp climates

Using

  • Picking seasonLate
  • CroppingHeavy
  • Keeping (of fruit)1 week
  • Food usesCulinary

Problems

  • Disease resistanceGood

Identification

  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1900 - 1949
  • Blossom colourWhite
  • Fruit colourBlue - dark