Autumn 2024Order now for delivery from week commencing 14th October for pot grown trees or December for bare-root or mixed tree orders.
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Merryweather damson trees

Prunus insititia
Merryweather
Check pollinators >
Merryweather is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Mid
  • Self-fertility: Self-fertile

Merryweather is a traditional English damson, its origins are unknown but it is one of the most widely-planted and hardy of damsons. The fruit is large by damson standards and Merryweather is in some ways more like a small plum.

The fruit can be eaten fresh if left to hang on the tree, but damsons really come into their own for culinary use, where they can subsitute for plums yet have a distinctive rich flavour.

Merryweather is a clingstone fruit - the stone is not easily parted from the flesh.

Merryweather 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 VVA-1 rootstock £62.00
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
    Out of stock
    Please try next season
  • PG22-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree St. Julien rootstock £60.50
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • PG3Premium half-standard 12L pot-grown tree St. Julien rootstock £63.50
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)

Bare-root

  • BR12-year bush-trained bare-root tree VVA-1 rootstock £49.75
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  • BR21-year bare-root tree St. Julien rootstock £38.75
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR32-year bush-trained bare-root tree St. Julien rootstock £47.50
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR42-year half-standard bare-root tree St. Julien rootstock £51.00
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR51-year bare-root tree Brompton rootstock £41.00
    Very large tree (4m-7m after 10 years)
Need help? Ask our fruit tree experts

Call us on 01759 392007 or fill in our contact form.

Next deliveries

Order now for delivery from week commencing 14th October for pot grown trees or December for bare-root or mixed tree orders.

Delivery charges

Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.

Growing and Training

Merryweather produces a large vigorous tree, which tends to be spreading rather than vertical in its growth like most damsons. The canopy is also less "twiggy" and more plum-like than other damsons, making it less suitable for use in fruiting hedges.

Merryweather is more precocious than other damsons, and you may get a crop from trees which are 2-4 years old.

Like most damsons, Merryweather tolerates wet and cold situations and is resistant to silverleaf.

Merryweather characteristics

Growing

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Self-fertilitySelf-fertile
  • Flowering group3
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesMild damp climates

Using

  • Picking seasonMid
  • 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

British-grown trees Trees grown in the UK.

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
Planth Healthy scheme logo

Guaranteed fruit trees

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.