Burgundy Plum Spring Bloom

Everyone first notices the unusual (for us anyway) formation of the clouds in this photo.

Burgundy Plum Bloom (and pruned hard for budwood - not fruit)

What is not unusual is the yearly, stunning white bloom of the Burgundy Plum.   Most of us only think of the edible plums for their summer fruit and forget about the attractive spring bloom.  The Burgundy Plum has one of the nicest.  Again you get two seasons with one tree.

The Burgundy Plum is one that nearly every nursery should sell.  It is an excellent tasting, red fleshed Japanese Plum which for us ripens over a long period from Early July until late August and sometimes into early September. 

Burgundy Plum is self fertile which eliminates the need for a pollinizer in the small yards of many homeowners.  In my opinion, it tastes just as good if not better than the old favorites of Mariposa and Satsuma Plums - each of which requires a pollinizer to fruit.

It has a wide climate range too.  Needing less than 350 hours of winter chilling allows this plum to be used in the many of populous coastal areas of our country.  It is also fairly cold hardy, comfortable going into USDA Zone 7 and probably into Zone 6.

Every nursery should carry at least two varieties of edible plums - one being red skinned with amber flesh (like Santa Rosa, Methley, Beauty) and the other a red skinned, red fleshed plum like Burgundy.

Ron L.

At last!  The long days and nights to finish the 2010-11 catalog are over.  It is at the printer's and we will begin mailing it out this week.  Now I have a little more time to enjoy the blessings of spring.

Prairifire Flowering Crabapples and California Poppies outside my office window (trying unsuccessfully to hide the irrigation pumps)

The last 2 weeks the sales staff spent a lot of time in our annual training.  Part of their annual training is walking through the scion wood orchard next to the office.  

 Rosie next to Helen Borchers Flowering Peach

 Lloyd also under Helen Borchers Flowering Peach

 Denise enjoying the early blooming Excel Lilacs (where is my Claritin?)

We spent a little extra time looking at the flowering crabapples - most of which are in glorious bloom.  Over the years crabapple sales have declined not only for us but for most growers as well.  I keep wondering where the sales went.  

It is a shame.  Crabapples are some of the prettiest trees in our orchard each spring.  Do landscape architects only know about Flowering Pears and Plums?  California has always been weak on crabapples, but even the strong market in the Midwest seems to have slowed dramatically.  If you have any ideas to share, post a reply to this article for all to see.

I have a favorite.  The Pink Perfection is absolutely stunning each Spring.  I can see it in the orchard from miles away - it nearly glows.  You can read more about it here: Pink Perfection Flowering Crabapple

Hope you have a wonderful spring!

Ron L.