Methley japanese plum trees
- Picking season: Early
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Flowering group: 1
Methley is probably the most suitable of the Japanese-style plums for growing in the UK.
Japanese plums are much more widely grown around the world (including in Europe, but not the UK) and therefore available in supermarkets year-round, so you have probably come across Methley or similar varieties.
Like many Japanese plums, Methley has a dark red flesh. The flavour is milder than most European plums. It ripens in mid-July in southern England.
Methley japanese plum trees for sale
Bare-root
BR11-year bare-root tree,Wavit rootstock£41.50
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
Out of stock
Please try next season
BR21-year bare-root tree,St. Julien rootstock£41.50
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
Out of stock
Please try next season
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Tree specification
Photos of trees as supplied |
Tree sizes and forms
Delivery charges
Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.
Growing and Training
Methley is potentially a heavy cropper. However, it flowers very early in the spring - in early March, which is well before European plum varieties, and this can put the blossom at risk from frosts or bad weather. For this reason it is best grown in a sheltered location with a warm south-facing aspect. The blossom is more abundant than with European varieties, and this adds some ornamental interest.
Methley is considered self-fertile, although in UK conditions it may only be partially self-fertile. It can cross-pollinate with other early-flowering cherry-plum varieties such as Countess.
History
Although generally considered a Japanese-style plum, Methley is actually a hybrid of Prunus salicina (the Japanese plum) and Prunus cerasifera (the cherry plum). It was found in the 1920s in South Africa.
Methley characteristics
- Gardening skillAverage
- Self-fertilitySelf-fertile
- Flowering group1
- Pollinating othersAverage
- Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesWarm climates
- Picking seasonEarly
- CroppingHeavy
- Keeping (of fruit)1 week
- Food usesEating fresh
- Country of originSouth Africa
- Period of origin1900 - 1949
- Blossom colourWhite
- Fruit colourPurple - light
- Flesh colourDark red
British-grown trees 
Unlike many garden centres and online retailers, the vast majority of our fruit trees are grown in the UK.
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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.
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Guaranteed fruit trees
When you buy your fruit tree from Orange Pippin Fruit Trees we guarantee it for the first season in your garden while 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.
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More about japanese plum trees
The plums most commonly found year-round in supermarkets are Japanese plums, they are usually quite large and spherical, and keep well.
Japanese plum trees need a warm climate without spring frosts, and with hot summers to grow successfully. They are grown commercially in California, and Chile.
Japanese plums do not cross-pollinate with European plums. However they are grafted on the same rootstocks.
