Plum Trees

Most of our plums need a second plum to set fruit. The exception is Mount Royal, which is self-fertile and kept cropping at MSU's Lodgepole site through winters below -45°F. Italian is partially self-fertile. For everything else, plan on two.

For the hybrid plums, Toka is the pollenizer we lean on most. It scored 10/10 for pollenizing other trees, though it still needs a partner of its own. Native American plum (8/10), South Dakota and Prairie Red (7/10), Kaga and Kahinta (6/10) are good pollenizers too. A few have specific needs: Deluge wants a European plum, and Brookgold and Brookred shouldn't be paired with each other. Our pollination maps help match bloom times.

In zone 2, start with Brookgold, Brookred, Ptitsin #5, Prairie Red and native American plum, with Toka rated to zone 2b. Most of the hybrids, like Underwood, Pipestone and Black Ice, are rated through all of zone 3. Italian, Superior, Deluge and Kuban Delight are rated to zone 3b, and Tipson plumcot to zone 4.

For fresh eating, Superior scored 9/10 and made our Best Of lists. Italian is the one to dry, with a 10/10 for drying and 9/10 for pies and cooking. Hanska scored 8/10 for cooking. Deer go after nearly all of these, so fence young trees.