Species dwarf plum
purple-burgundy fruit with yellow-green leaves on brown-yellow branches

dwarf plum

Prunus domestica 'Johnson' STARKING DELICIOUS

Dwarf Plum is a small cultivar of Prunus domestica. This deciduous tree variety can grow to a maximum height of 10 - 15 feet, with a spread of 8 - 10 feet. Its glossy, dark green foliage is winter hardy and its distinctive white flowers bloom in the spring and set abundant dark purple fruit in the summer. The tree's real attraction is the extremely sweet deep red-purple flesh, giving it its trademark name: Starking Delicious. Dwarf Plum is a great choice for the home gardener, bringing a taste of sweetness to backyard orchards.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Grafting Propagation,Budding,Layering Propagation,Budding,Budding,Air Layering Propagation,Cutting

Hardiness Zone:

5 - 9

Flowers:

White Flowers In Spring

Sun:

Full sun

Fruits:

purple Fruits Ready In

Edible:

Yes

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

High

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

The Dwarf Plum (Prunus domestica 'Johnson' STARKING DELICIOUS) is a small but hardy fruit tree that needs an appropriate amount of water to stay healthy. This particular plant species is drought-tolerant and only needs regular watering during its early stages of growth. Once the plant is established, it should only need watering once a week, or every 10-14 days if it is receiving natural rainfall. During times of extreme heat, you may need to water it more frequently. In general, it is best to water your Dwarf Plum deeply and slowly, providing enough water to reach the root system. The particular soil type will determine the best water delivery method, such as drip irrigation, sprinkler system, or traditional watering can. When watering your Dwarf Plum, remember to focus on the root system and not just the foliage. Also, try to avoid wetting the leaves and instead water the roots directly. This will help prevent the risk of fungal disease.

sunlight

Dwarf plum (Prunus domestica 'Johnson' STARKING DELICIOUS) plants should be situated in full sun for a minimum of 6 hours per day. The best time for the plant to receive the sunlight would be between the hours of 9am and 5pm, when the sun is at its strongest and the light intensity is at its highest. In areas where the temperature is higher during the day, it is recommended to move the plant to a slightly shadier area in order to avoid sunburn.

pruning

For Dwarf Plum trees (Prunus domestica 'Johnson' STARKING DELICIOUS), pruning should occur twice a year for best health and flowering production. Prune in late winter when growth is dormant (around mid-February), and again in late summer (around mid-August). During winter pruning, focus on removing dead, diseased, broken, or overcrowded branches. When pruning in the winter, reduce branch length by up to 25% to encourage bushiness. During summer pruning, focus on removing dead flowers and light heading pruning to encourage side shoots. This will result in increased fruit production and better branching. When using any pruning tools, make sure that all cuts are clean and sanitized to avoid bacterial or fungal infection.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

The Prunus domestica 'Johnson' STARKING DELICIOUS dwarf plum typically starts flowering in April.

Harvest Fruit

tree The best time to start harvesting Prunus domestica 'Johnson' STARKING DELICIOUS, also known as dwarf plum tree, is usually in July or August.

Hardiness Map