Shropshire Prune damson trees

• Check pollinators >

• Picking season: Mid Early September
• Self-fertility: Self-fertile
• Awards: RHS AGM (current) 1998
• Awards: Slow Food - Ark of Taste

The definitive English damson, Shropshire Prune has the rich astringent flavour typical of damsons.

Shropshire Prune 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 £60.50< 5 in stock
  Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  

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• PG22-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree St. Julien rootstock £59.00
  Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  

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• PG3Premium half-standard 12L pot-grown tree St. Julien rootstock £62.00< 5 in stock
  Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  

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Bare-root

• BR12-year bush-trained bare-root tree VVA-1 rootstock £49.75< 5 in stock
  Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  

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• BR21-year bare-root tree Wavit rootstock £43.75< 5 in stock
  Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  

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• BR32-year bush-trained bare-root tree St. Julien rootstock £47.50< 5 in stock
  Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  

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• BR42-year half-standard bare-root tree St. Julien rootstock £51.00< 5 in stock
  Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  

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• BR51-year bare-root tree Brompton rootstock £41.00< 5 in stock
  Very large tree (4m-7m after 10 years)
  

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Next deliveries

Order now for delivery from week commencing 11th December onwards where these items are showing as in stock.

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.

EU delivery
This variety is also available for delivery to Europe. Contact us for details.

Shropshire Prune is the definitive northern English damson, with a distinctive astringent richness which makes it a versatile fruit for culinary purposes.

The centre of commercial damson production in the UK is Lyth Valley in Cumbria. Shropshire Prune (or its close relations) is the most widely planted variety in this area. Unlke almost all other fruit trees, damsons, particularly Shropshire Prune, actually like a damp climate - so if you live in the north or west of the UK, Shropshire Prune is worth considering.

Shropshire Prune is a semi-clingstone fruit - the stone is not easily parted from the flesh.

How to grow

Shropshire Prune produces a typical damson tree - fairly small but upright, with densely packed branches. While normally grown as a bush-tree, the dense branches mean it can also be trained as a productive hedge, although for the same reason it is not the best choice of damson if you wish to train as a fain.

The tree is self-fertile, although cropping will be improved if there is another tree nearby.

Like all damsons, Shropshire Prune is very easy to grow, but produces lighter crops than Merryweather. The main factor affecting the crop is the weather in April when the tree is in blossom. Rain, wind, or frost at this time can reduce yields - not necessarily through damaging the blossom, but by discouraging insects and preventing pollination. Apart from that there is nothing much to worry about. Pruning is unnecessary (except to remove damaged branches - if so, this should be done only in summer).

For more information about growing and caring for damson trees, particularly Shropshire Prune, see the Westmorland Damson Association website.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

History

Shropshire Prune is an English variety, probably originating from the north-west, however its exact origins are not known.

Shropshire Prune characteristics