Plum Santa Rosa

Prunus salicina ‘Santa Rosa’

Characteristics

Culture

The Santa Rosa Japanese plum tree fulfills two purposes in your yard – producing beautiful, white spring blooms and delicious fruit. The two main species of plums used in the United States are the European plum, Prunus domestica, and the Japanese plum, Prunus salycina. The European plum produced poorly in Texas because they require cold climates and are susceptible to fungal diseases such as brown rot. The varieties adapted to Texas are usually hybrids between P. domestica and P. salycina and are known as Japanese or Japanese hybrid varieties. The Santa Rosa plum tree has white flowers and sets fruit on buds from previous season’s growth. Usually the fruit has a dusty white coating or wax bloom that is easily rubbed off. Plums can be sweet to tart; the skin is typically quite tart. Plum trees need to be pruned to encourage fruiting. Pruning keeps plum trees a manageable size and helps to energize new buds for fruiting.  

Noteworthy Characteristics

This Japanese plum variety was developed by the famed horticulturist, Luther Burbank of Santa Rosa, California, and introduced in 1906. ‘Santa Rosa’ is a large purplish plum with amber colored flesh. The sweet, tender and juicy flesh of a this plum is complemented by a hint of tartness in the skin, which serves to balance out the sugars for a perfect blend of flavor. It ripens in late June and is a popular home and market variety across the state. While the Santa Rosa plum is a self-pollinator, you’ll harvest a more abundant crop when planted with other Japanese varieties.

Problems

For help with disease issues and pests, click on the links below.

• Farming Texas fruit and nut production: plums
• Homeowner’s guide to pests for peaches, plums, and pecans

Uses

Their fine-textured clingstone flesh is delicious when eaten fresh, canned, or used in cooking. The tart skin, coupled with the fact that they are high in pectin, makes Santa Rosa plums great for jams. This Japanese plum variety makes a stunning ornamental tree with its showy, pinkish white blossoms in the spring.