{"title":"Zone 2 Plum Trees","description":"\u003cp class=\"mft-zone-btn\" style=\"margin:0 0 16px\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\" title=\"Our zones follow the MFTC Modified Zone Hardiness Scale. Comparing them to USDA averages will give you a discrepancy, so look up where these trees will be planted.\" style=\"display:inline-block;padding:11px 20px;border-radius:4px;background:#3e6b33;color:#fff;text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;line-height:1.3\"\u003eMFTC Zones, Not USDA Averages: Look Up Your Address →\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSeven plums for zone 2, listed A to Z. The ones rated only to 2b, the warmer half of the zone (-45°F to -40°F), have a 2b tag on them. Everything else is hardy through all of zone 2, down to -50°F.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdetails class=\"mft-more\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eMore About Zone 2 Plums\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eHardy through all of zone 2: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/brookgold-plum\"\u003eBrookgold\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/brookred-plum\"\u003eBrookred\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/native-american-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003eNative American\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-red-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003ePrairie Red\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ptitsin-5-plum\"\u003ePtitsin #5\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRated to 2b, the warmer half: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/mount-royal-plum\"\u003eMount Royal\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/toka-plum\"\u003eToka\u003c\/a\u003e. Save these for a 2b site. If you're in the colder half (2a), skip the ones with the 2b tag.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMount Royal is self-fertile. The rest need a second variety blooming at the same time. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/plum-pollination-map\"\u003eplum pollination map\u003c\/a\u003e shows which ones bloom together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor jam and jelly: Brookgold, Brookred, Native American, Prairie Red, Ptitsin #5, Mount Royal and Toka.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOther zones: \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/zone-3-plum-trees\"\u003eZone 3 Plums\u003c\/a\u003e · \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/zone-2-fruit-trees\"\u003eEverything for Zone 2\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions We Get\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat does zone 2 mean on your scale?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn our MFTC scale, zone 2 means the coldest night you should plan for (the 1-in-30-year low) falls between -50°F and -40°F. Zone 2a runs -50°F to -45°F and zone 2b runs -45°F to -40°F. That is colder than a USDA zone 2, which is built on the average yearly low, so run your address through our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e instead of going off a USDA map.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCan I plant the 2b plums in zone 2a?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe don't recommend it. A 2b rating means it has come through -45°F, not the -50°F a cold zone 2a winter can bring. Not sure which half you're in? Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e will tell you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDo I need two plum trees?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot for Mount Royal, which is self-fertile. The others do better with a partner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"mount-royal-plum","title":"Mount Royal Plum (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mount Royal Plum is a plum tree rated hardy to zone 2b in our ratings (winters to -45°F), self-fertile, so one tree can crop (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for a European plum), and it ripens about Aug 31 to Sep 12 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 2b to 7. The b means the warmer half of zone 2 only (winters to -45°F). Our notes have it taking -44°F. Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 800 hours (700 to 1,000). Our estimate. No published figure exists for this variety yet. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#mount-royal-plum\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelf-Fertile. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), mid spring here. Mount Royal is self-fertile and fruits as a single tree. It is also a good pollenizer for other European plums. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/stanley-plum\"\u003eStanley Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/italian-plum\"\u003eItalian Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/early-italian-plum\"\u003eEarly Italian Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/longjohn-plum\"\u003eLongjohn Plum\u003c\/a\u003e and 6 more. Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/plum-pollination-map\"\u003ePlum Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 31 to Sep 12 in Missoula (a Missoula estimate from published sources). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Plum: semi-dwarf, about 10 to 15 ft tall unpruned. Suckers, so mow or pull suckers. Prairie Red Plum: semi-dwarf, about 10 to 15 ft tall unpruned. A seed-grown American plum hybrid from the USDA plant materials center in Bismarck; it suckers. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (8\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10), canning and freezing (7\/10), drying (7\/10), cooking and roasting (7\/10), sauce and butter (7\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA deer favorite. Fence it or cage it.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCompare it\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/italian-vs-mount-royal-plum\"\u003eItalian vs Mount Royal\u003c\/a\u003e, side by side on hardiness, pollination, ripening and fruit.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 3-5 ft or 5-7 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMount Royal plum has been a reliable European plum variety for northern growers. It is an upright to spreading tree with an open center and moderate vigor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFlavor and Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe light blue plums are juicy, semi-freestone, and have sweet flesh. They are excellent for fresh eating, okay for drying, and ripen in late August to early September.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMount Royal has survived temperatures as low as -44°F in West Central MN and -42°F in Columbus, MT, proving its hardiness in extreme conditions. UPDATE FALL 2025: We just discovered that Mount Royal has survived and borne a consistent crop in Lodgepole, Montana at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/agresearch.montana.edu\/warc\/research_current\/msu-ext-fruit-research-sites\/lodge_pole.html\"\u003eMSU's Lodgepole Fruit Research Site,\u003c\/a\u003e where it has gotten down to sub -45F temps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRootstock and Cold Tolerance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur Mount Royal plums are grafted onto Native Plum and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-red-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003ePrairie Red Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, both of which are hardy to at least -50F. Native Plum is semi-dwarf in our MT climate\/soils, although we have found that there is some natural variation in size, as these plants are grown from seed. Prairie Red, meanwhile, exhibits less variation in size according to what Dan Sheild has observed at his site in MN.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003ePhotos: “Fruits du prunier Mont-Royal (Prunus domestica 'Mont-Royal')” by Maxime Laterreur, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Fruits_du_prunier_Mont-Royal_(Prunus_domestica_%27Mont-Royal%27).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY-SA 4.0\u003c\/a\u003e; “Fleurs du prunier Mont-Royal (Prunus domestica 'Mont-Royal')” by Maxime Laterreur, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Fleurs_du_prunier_Mont-Royal_(Prunus_domestica_%27Mont-Royal%27).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY 4.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Mount Royal Plum\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Mount Royal Plum need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Mount Royal Plum is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Mount Royal is self-fertile and fruits as a single tree. It is also a good pollenizer for other European plums. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/stanley-plum\"\u003eStanley Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/italian-plum\"\u003eItalian Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/early-italian-plum\"\u003eEarly Italian Plum\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Mount Royal Plum?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Mount Royal Plum hardy to zone 2b, which means winters down to about -45°F. Our notes have it taking -44°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Mount Royal Plum need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 800 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 700 and 1,000. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#mount-royal-plum\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Mount Royal Plum ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 31 to Sep 12 in Missoula, Montana (an estimate built from published sources and our climate). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Mount Royal Plum get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Mount Royal Plum onto Native Plum (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 10 to 15 ft tall if you never prune it. Some sizes are on \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-red-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003ePrairie Red Plum\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Mount Royal Plum good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Mount Royal Plum are fresh eating (8\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10), canning and freezing (7\/10), drying (7\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Mount Royal Plum?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Mount Royal Plum with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Native Plum Semi-Dwarf: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":42500896686146,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Prairie Red Plum Semi-Dwarf: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":45134015365186,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Native Plum Semi-Dwarf: 3-5 ft.(One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45134015397954,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Prairie Red Plum Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45134015430722,"sku":null,"price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Native Plum Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft.(Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45134015463490,"sku":null,"price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Native Plum Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft.(One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45134015496258,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/mount-royal-plums-on-tree.jpg?v=1791616066"},{"product_id":"native-american-plum-bundle-of-2","title":"Native American Plum (Bundle of 3) | Spring 2027","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Native American Plum is a plum tree rated hardy to zone 2 in our ratings (winters to -50°F), and self-incompatible, so plant two genetically different plants (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for a hybrid or Japanese plum).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 2 to 9. A bare number means the whole of zone 2, colder half included (winters to -50°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 800 hours (600 to 1,200). Our estimate. No published figure exists for this variety yet. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#native-american-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelf-Incompatible - Plant Two Genotypes. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), early spring here. Each seedling needs pollen from a different wild plum, so plant the whole bundle together. They also make excellent pollenizers for hybrid plums like Toka, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/superior-plum\"\u003eSuperior\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/alderman-plum\"\u003eAlderman\u003c\/a\u003e. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/toka-plum\"\u003eToka Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kaga-plum\"\u003eKaga Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kahinta-plum\"\u003eKahinta Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/south-dakota-plum\"\u003eSouth Dakota Plum\u003c\/a\u003e and 15 more. Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/plum-pollination-map\"\u003ePlum Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eJams and jellies (8\/10), feeding wildlife (8\/10), windbreaks and hedgerows (8\/10), pollenizing other trees (8\/10), sauce and butter (7\/10), pollinators (7\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Native American Plum produces fragrant, white flowers in showy, flat-topped clusters that appear before the leaves in spring. These blooms are tied with Linden for the best floral, perfumy blossom smell when in full bloom. Their scent is unreal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEdible Fruit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fruit that follows ripens to a shiny, bright red in August or September. It’s great fresh (if left to ripen longer on the tree), dried, or made into preserves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGreat for Pollinators\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tree will pollenize other Native American Plums, making it a perfect choice for creating a natural windbreak or attracting pollinators. Help support native pollinators with this addition to your landscape!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHardy and Adaptable\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHardy to zone 2.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePlant Size\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese trees are 3–5 ft. tall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003ePhotos: “Prunus americana - American (wild) plum - Flickr - Matt Lavin” by Matt Lavin, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Prunus_americana_-_American_(wild)_plum_-_Flickr_-_Matt_Lavin.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY-SA 2.0\u003c\/a\u003e; “Prunus americana - American (wild) plum - Flickr - Matt Lavin (5)” by Matt Lavin, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Prunus_americana_-_American_(wild)_plum_-_Flickr_-_Matt_Lavin_(5).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY-SA 2.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Native American Plum\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Native American Plum?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Native American Plum hardy to zone 2, which means winters down to about -50°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Native American Plum need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 800 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 600 and 1,200. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#native-american-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Native American Plum good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Native American Plum are jams and jellies (8\/10), feeding wildlife (8\/10), windbreaks and hedgerows (8\/10), pollenizing other trees (8\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Native American Plum?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Native American Plum now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Native American Plum ship?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA dormant bare-root plant, roots wrapped in moist sawdust with a vapor barrier, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring. We guarantee our plants bud out. Stone fruits can be slow, so if one still has not budded out by August 15, write to us and we credit you for the following spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42472438464578,"sku":null,"price":99.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/american-plum-ripe-fruit.jpg?v=1791616178"},{"product_id":"prairie-red-plum-bundle-of-2","title":"Prairie Red Plum (Bundle of 2) | Spring 2027","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Prairie Red Plum is a plum tree rated hardy to zone 2 in our ratings (winters to -50°F), and not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for a hybrid or Japanese plum).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 2 to 8. A bare number means the whole of zone 2, colder half included (winters to -50°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 800 hours (600 to 1,200). Our estimate. No published figure exists for this variety yet. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#prairie-red-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeeds Cross-Pollination. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), early spring here. Prairie Red plants grown from the same original plant cannot pollenize each other, so add a Native American plum seedling or a different hybrid such as Toka. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/native-american-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003eNative American Plum (Bundle of 3)\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/toka-plum\"\u003eToka Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kaga-plum\"\u003eKaga Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kahinta-plum\"\u003eKahinta Plum\u003c\/a\u003e and 15 more. Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/plum-pollination-map\"\u003ePlum Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eJams and jellies (8\/10), windbreaks and hedgerows (8\/10), pollenizing other trees (7\/10), feeding wildlife (6\/10), fresh eating (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA deer favorite. Fence it or cage it.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 3-5 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ePrairie Red\u003c\/em\u003e plum is a hybrid, very cold-hardy, thicket-forming, small tree that reaches up to 15 feet in height. White flowers appear in early May, followed by larger, edible reddish-yellow to red fruit in late summer and fall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eFruit Characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThe plums are sweeter when left on the tree for longer and are fairly large in size (see photo).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eCold Hardiness and Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ePrairie Red\u003c\/em\u003e has survived cold temperatures in Montana and is widely planted on the prairies (in Canada, the Dakotas, and Eastern Montana) as a shelterbelt for wind. It serves the dual purpose of providing both wind protection and a fruit yield. We have also used \u003cem\u003ePrairie Red\u003c\/em\u003e as rootstock for grafting Asian-American hybrid plums.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eWildlife Benefits\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThis tree provides good food and habitat for wildlife.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eCold Tolerance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ePrairie Red\u003c\/em\u003e is hardy to Zone 2 (-50°F or more). These trees are 3–5 ft. tall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Prairie Red Plum\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Prairie Red Plum need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Prairie Red Plum needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. Prairie Red plants grown from the same original plant cannot pollenize each other, so add a \u003ca href=\"\/products\/native-american-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003eNative American plum\u003c\/a\u003e seedling or a different hybrid such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/toka-plum\"\u003eToka\u003c\/a\u003e. Partners we carry include Native American Plum (Bundle of 3), Toka Plum, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kaga-plum\"\u003eKaga Plum\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Prairie Red Plum?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Prairie Red Plum hardy to zone 2, which means winters down to about -50°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Prairie Red Plum need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 800 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 600 and 1,200. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#prairie-red-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Prairie Red Plum good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Prairie Red Plum are jams and jellies (8\/10), windbreaks and hedgerows (8\/10), pollenizing other trees (7\/10), feeding wildlife (6\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Prairie Red Plum?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Prairie Red Plum with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Prairie Red Plum ship?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA dormant bare-root plant, roots wrapped in moist sawdust with a vapor barrier, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring. Sizes offered: 3-5 ft. We guarantee our plants bud out. Stone fruits can be slow, so if one still has not budded out by August 15, write to us and we credit you for the following spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"3-5 ft.","offer_id":42535338311746,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/prairie-red-plum-on-tree.webp?v=1789020829"},{"product_id":"ptitsin-5-plum","title":"Ptitsin #5 Plum (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ptitsin #5 Plum is a plum tree rated hardy to zone 2 in our ratings (winters to -50°F), and not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 3 of 7, early-mid for a hybrid or Japanese plum).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 2 to 7. A bare number means the whole of zone 2, colder half included (winters to -50°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 600 hours (400 to 900). Our estimate. No published figure exists for this variety yet. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#ptitsin-5-plum\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeeds Cross-Pollination. Bloom group 3 of 7 (early-mid), early spring here. Ptitsin #5 needs another Japanese plum such as Brookgold or Brookred, or a Native American plum, nearby. It cannot pollenize European plums like \u003ca href=\"\/products\/stanley-plum\"\u003eStanley\u003c\/a\u003e. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/brookgold-plum\"\u003eBrookgold Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/brookred-plum\"\u003eBrookred Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/native-american-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003eNative American Plum (Bundle of 3)\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/toka-plum\"\u003eToka Plum\u003c\/a\u003e and 13 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/plum-pollination-map\"\u003ePlum Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePrairie Red: semi-dwarf, about 10 to 15 ft tall unpruned. A seed-grown American plum hybrid from the USDA plant materials center in Bismarck; it suckers. Native Plum: semi-dwarf, about 10 to 15 ft tall unpruned. Suckers, so mow or pull suckers. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (7\/10), jams and jellies (6\/10), canning and freezing (6\/10), drying (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA deer favorite. Fence it or cage it.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 4-5 ft or 5-7 ft or 6-8 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e*New variety for us in Montana so all this info is second hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePtitsin #5 is an uncommon Japanese-type plum (\u003cem\u003ePrunus salicina\u003c\/em\u003e) that entered North American evaluation through early prairie and university fruit trials rather than commercial orchard channels. It is best known today through limited propagation among specialty nurseries and experimental growers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Background\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePtitsin #5 appears in North American horticultural records as a numbered selection distributed through the Morden Experiment Station in Manitoba, and it was received for evaluation by the University of Minnesota Fruit Breeding Farm in 1943. Like many numbered plums of this era, it was assessed for fruit quality and adaptability rather than released as a named commercial cultivar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit Quality \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fruit of Ptitsin #5 is small to medium, typically light yellow to yellow-green when ripe, and is freestone, which is unusual and valuable in very cold-hardy plums. Flavor is generally described as sweet with mild acidity, pleasant and balanced rather than sharp. The flesh is aromatic and suitable for fresh eating, while also performing well for preserves, jam, and drying.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike many ultra-hardy plums that are strictly “processing quality,” Ptitsin #5 is notable for being genuinely enjoyable fresh, especially when fully ripe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRipening Window\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePtitsin #5 typically ripens in early to mid-August in Zone 3 climates, making it an early-to-mid season plum. This earlier ripening window helps it mature reliably in regions with shorter summers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit \u0026amp; Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrees are generally moderate in vigor with a balanced growth habit. They are not excessively large or unruly, making them manageable in small orchards. Standard plum spacing applies, typically 12–16 feet, with wider spacing on more vigorous rootstocks or in lower-input systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePtitsin #5 is not reliably self-fertile and benefits from cross-pollination. Best results are achieved by planting it with another compatible hardy plum that blooms at a similar time, including \u003ca href=\"\/products\/alderman-plum\"\u003eAlderman\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kuban-delight-plum\"\u003eKuban Delight\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/la-crescent-plum\"\u003eLa Crescent\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pipestone-plum\"\u003ePipestone\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/south-dakota-plum\"\u003eSouth Dakota\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/superior-plum\"\u003eSuperior\u003c\/a\u003e, Uderwood, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/toka-plum\"\u003eToka\u003c\/a\u003e, as well as Native American and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-red-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003ePrairie Red plum\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUPDATE: Our friend Bob Purvis reported to us in May 2026 that, during his visit to Mongolia that spring, Robert Berg’s Ptitsin #5, along with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/brookgold-plum\"\u003eBrookgold\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/brookred-plum\"\u003eBrookred\u003c\/a\u003e, Ivanovka, Rotova, and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/northern-blue-plum\"\u003eNorthern Blue\u003c\/a\u003e, had withstood temperatures as low as -50°F without damage to the blossom buds. \u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003ePtitsin #5 should be good for most parts of Montana. If planted in Eastern MT, should do well in Billings and the warmer surrounding valleys. Anywhere else east of the divide could work if the tree is sited properly out of where frost puddles (upslope\/on a bench) and where there is good airflow. Solid zone 2 plum (possibly even hardier).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy We Value This Plum\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePtitsin #5 occupies a rare niche: a plum that is\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003egenuinely hardy, reliably productive, and pleasant to eat fresh, not merely a survival specimen. For growers pushing the limits of plum cultivation in cold climates, it represents one of the better-tested and more dependable options available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Ptitsin #5 Plum\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Ptitsin #5 Plum need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Ptitsin #5 Plum needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. Ptitsin #5 needs another Japanese plum such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/brookgold-plum\"\u003eBrookgold\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/brookred-plum\"\u003eBrookred\u003c\/a\u003e, or a \u003ca href=\"\/products\/native-american-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003eNative American plum\u003c\/a\u003e, nearby. It cannot pollenize European plums like \u003ca href=\"\/products\/stanley-plum\"\u003eStanley\u003c\/a\u003e. Partners we carry include Brookgold Plum, Brookred Plum, Native American Plum (Bundle of 3).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Ptitsin #5 Plum?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Ptitsin #5 Plum hardy to zone 2, which means winters down to about -50°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Ptitsin #5 Plum need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 600 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 400 and 900. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#ptitsin-5-plum\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Ptitsin #5 Plum get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Ptitsin #5 Plum onto \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-red-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003ePrairie Red\u003c\/a\u003e (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 10 to 15 ft tall if you never prune it. Some sizes are on Native Plum.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Ptitsin #5 Plum good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Ptitsin #5 Plum are fresh eating (7\/10), jams and jellies (6\/10), canning and freezing (6\/10), drying (6\/10).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Ptitsin #5 Plum?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Ptitsin #5 Plum with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Ptitsin #5 Plum ship?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA dormant bare-root plant, roots wrapped in moist sawdust with a vapor barrier, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring. Sizes offered: 4-5 ft or 5-7 ft or 6-8 ft. We guarantee our plants bud out. Stone fruits can be slow, so if one still has not budded out by August 15, write to us and we credit you for the following spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Prairie Red Semi-Dwarf: 4-5 ft.","offer_id":42503606534210,"sku":null,"price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Native Plum Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":42503606468674,"sku":null,"price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Prairie Red Semi-Dwarf: 6-8 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45134398292034,"sku":null,"price":109.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/ptitsin-5-plum-on-tree.jpg?v=1789020871"},{"product_id":"toka-plum","title":"Toka Plum (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Toka Plum is a plum tree rated hardy to zone 2b in our ratings (winters to -45°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for a hybrid or Japanese plum), and it ripens about Aug 31 to Sep 12 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 2b to 8. The b means the warmer half of zone 2 only (winters to -45°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 550 hours (400 to 750). Well documented. Independent sources agree. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#toka-plum\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeeds Cross-Pollination. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), early spring here. Toka is the best all-round pollenizer for hybrid plums, but it still needs a different hybrid such as Superior or South Dakota to fruit well itself. A \u003ca href=\"\/products\/native-american-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003eNative American plum\u003c\/a\u003e nearby covers the Canadian advice that hybrids need wild plum pollen. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kaga-plum\"\u003eKaga Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kahinta-plum\"\u003eKahinta Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/south-dakota-plum\"\u003eSouth Dakota Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/superior-plum\"\u003eSuperior Plum\u003c\/a\u003e and 15 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/plum-pollination-map\"\u003ePlum Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 31 to Sep 12 in Missoula (a Missoula estimate from published sources). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePrairie Red Plum: semi-dwarf, about 10 to 15 ft tall unpruned. A seed-grown American plum hybrid from the USDA plant materials center in Bismarck; it suckers. Native Plum: semi-dwarf, about 10 to 15 ft tall unpruned. Suckers, so mow or pull suckers. Plant 12 to 16 ft apart. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePollenizing other trees (10\/10), fresh eating (8\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA deer favorite. Fence it or cage it.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCompare it\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/toka-vs-superior-plum\"\u003eToka vs Superior\u003c\/a\u003e, side by side on hardiness, pollination, ripening and fruit.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhere it came from\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRead about \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hansen-and-the-northern-great-plains\"\u003eN.E. Hansen and the northern Great Plains\u003c\/a\u003e and what else came out of it.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 3-5 ft or 4-5 ft or 5-7 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToka is the classic “bubblegum plum,” a cold-climate hybrid plum known for its unusually aromatic, candy-sweet flavor and its value as a strong pollenizer in hardy plum plantings. It’s one of the most talked-about dessert-quality plums for colder regions because it brings standout flavor while still fitting into northern orchard systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin \u0026amp; History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToka was released in 1911 through the cold-climate breeding work associated with N.E. Hansen and the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/south-dakota-plum\"\u003eSouth Dakota\u003c\/a\u003e program. It is a hybrid between the rugged \u003ca href=\"\/products\/native-american-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003enative American plum\u003c\/a\u003e and the highly aromatic Chinese “apricot plum” species Prunus simonii, bred specifically to combine hardiness with distinctive flavor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToka fruits are typically small to medium and ripen in late summer, with a reputation for an intensely sweet, perfumed flavor that many growers describe as bubblegum-like. At peak ripeness it’s excellent for fresh eating, and it also performs well in jam, sauce, and preserves where that concentrated aroma carries through.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToka is described as forming a vase-shaped tree with a medium growth rate. Like many hardy hybrid plums, it can be quite productive when well pollinated, and good structure and occasional thinning help keep crops consistent and limbs healthy over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe currently offer Toka on Native Plum and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-red-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003ePrairie Red Plum\u003c\/a\u003e Semi-Dwarf rootstock. On both of these semi-dwarf plum-type root system, a practical spacing is generally about 12–16 ft between trees depending on soil vigor, irrigation, and how much you plan to manage canopy size through pruning. The overall size of the trees will be less uniform for the native plum rootstocks, which is why we are also offering Prairie Red, which tend to be more uniform and max out closer to 15 ft. at maturity. Use wider spacing when you want simpler long-term maintenance and better airflow, and tighter spacing only when you are committed to regular size control.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToka is widely used as a pollenizer in hardy plum plantings and is commonly recommended as a partner that improves fruit set in other plums. Toka is effectively a universal pollenizer for all of the Asian x american hardy hybrid plums that we offer including \u003ca href=\"\/products\/black-ice-plum\"\u003eBlack Ice\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pipestone-plum\"\u003ePipestone\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/underwood-plum\"\u003eUnderwood\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/superior-plum\"\u003eSuperior\u003c\/a\u003e, and others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToka is a solid Zone 2b plum. It has survived and done well with minimal winter injury at Montana State's Lodgepole location, which has seen -40F temps. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOther Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA key reason Toka has stayed famous for more than a century is that it combines real dessert appeal with utility: it’s repeatedly highlighted as a standout-flavor plum and also as a pollenizer workhorse in hardy plum orchards. On disease, Cummins Nursery reports strong resistance to black knot for Toka.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Toka Plum\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Toka Plum need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Toka Plum needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. Toka is the best all-round pollenizer for hybrid plums, but it still needs a different hybrid such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/superior-plum\"\u003eSuperior\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/south-dakota-plum\"\u003eSouth Dakota\u003c\/a\u003e to fruit well itself. A \u003ca href=\"\/products\/native-american-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003eNative American plum\u003c\/a\u003e nearby covers the Canadian advice that hybrids need wild plum pollen. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kaga-plum\"\u003eKaga Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kahinta-plum\"\u003eKahinta Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, South Dakota Plum.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Toka Plum?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Toka Plum hardy to zone 2b, which means winters down to about -45°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Toka Plum need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 550 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 400 and 750. That figure is well documented: independent sources agree. Nurseries mostly list 500 to 600 hours (Stark sells it as Bubblegum). It's a strong pollenizer for other hybrid plums. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#toka-plum\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Toka Plum ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 31 to Sep 12 in Missoula, Montana (an estimate built from published sources and our climate). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Toka Plum get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Toka Plum onto \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-red-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003ePrairie Red Plum\u003c\/a\u003e (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 10 to 15 ft tall if you never prune it. Some sizes are on Native Plum. Plant 12 to 16 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Toka Plum good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Toka Plum are pollenizing other trees (10\/10), fresh eating (8\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Toka Plum?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Toka Plum with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Prairie Red Plum Semi-Dwarf: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":45140619067458,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Native Plum Semi-Dwarf: 4-5 ft.","offer_id":45140619100226,"sku":null,"price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Native Plum Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft.","offer_id":45140619132994,"sku":null,"price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Prairie Red Plum Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft.","offer_id":45140619165762,"sku":null,"price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Native Plum Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":42505253978178,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/toka-plum-on-tree.png?v=1789021268"},{"product_id":"brookgold-plum","title":"Brookgold Plum (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Brookgold Plum is a plum tree rated hardy to zone 2 in our ratings (winters to -50°F), and not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 3 of 7, early-mid for a hybrid or Japanese plum).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 2 to 7. A bare number means the whole of zone 2, colder half included (winters to -50°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 700 hours (500 to 900). Our estimate. No published figure exists for this variety yet. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#brookgold-plum\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeeds Cross-Pollination. Bloom group 3 of 7 (early-mid), early spring here. Brookgold is a Japanese plum and needs another Japanese plum such as Ptitsin #5, or a Native American plum, nearby. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/brookred-plum\"\u003eBrookred\u003c\/a\u003e will not pollenize it. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ptitsin-5-plum\"\u003ePtitsin #5 Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/native-american-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003eNative American Plum (Bundle of 3)\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/toka-plum\"\u003eToka Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kaga-plum\"\u003eKaga Plum\u003c\/a\u003e and 12 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/plum-pollination-map\"\u003ePlum Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePrairie Red Plum: semi-dwarf, about 10 to 15 ft tall unpruned. A seed-grown American plum hybrid from the USDA plant materials center in Bismarck; it suckers. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (8\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10), canning and freezing (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA deer favorite. Fence it or cage it.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhere it came from\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRead about \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/canadian-prairie-breeding-stations\"\u003ethe Canadian prairie breeding stations\u003c\/a\u003e and what else came out of it.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 4-6 ft or 6-7 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOne of the hardiest plums out there.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBred on the Alberta Prairie\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrookgold was developed at the Crop Diversification Centre South in Brooks, Alberta, and named for the town and for its golden color. It was introduced in 1979. Like the best of the prairie plums, it was bred to come through winters that kill most other plums, and it does it without giving up much on flavor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSize: small, about an inch across\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSkin: thin and bright gold, often with an orange blush, and not sour the way a lot of plum skins are\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFlesh: yellow, soft, very juicy and extremely sweet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePit: freestone\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's one of the first plums to ripen, in mid-August up on the prairies. Great fresh off the tree, and good for canning and jam. Growers up north describe it as dependable and productive, which is exactly what you want from a plum in cold country.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe flesh is soft and doesn't keep long, about a week in the fridge, so plan on eating them fresh or putting them up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrookgold is new for us, so we'll add our own notes once our trees are fruiting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003eAbout the photo: this isn’t Brookgold itself. Photos of Brookgold are either under copyright or simply unavailable, so we picked the open-source image that looks closest to the fruit. Photo: “RoscheiderhofMiarabelleVonNancy58” by Helge Klaus Rieder, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:RoscheiderhofMiarabelleVonNancy58.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/deed.en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Brookgold Plum\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Brookgold Plum need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Brookgold Plum needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. Brookgold is a Japanese plum and needs another Japanese plum such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ptitsin-5-plum\"\u003ePtitsin #5\u003c\/a\u003e, or a \u003ca href=\"\/products\/native-american-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003eNative American plum\u003c\/a\u003e, nearby. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/brookred-plum\"\u003eBrookred\u003c\/a\u003e will not pollenize it. Partners we carry include Ptitsin #5 Plum, Native American Plum (Bundle of 3), \u003ca href=\"\/products\/toka-plum\"\u003eToka Plum\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Brookgold Plum?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Brookgold Plum hardy to zone 2, which means winters down to about -50°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Brookgold Plum need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 700 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 500 and 900. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Bred in Alberta for long, cold winters. Estimated at about 700 hours, the same figure listed for its sister plum Brookred. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#brookgold-plum\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Brookgold Plum get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Brookgold Plum onto \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-red-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003ePrairie Red Plum\u003c\/a\u003e (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 10 to 15 ft tall if you never prune it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Brookgold Plum good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Brookgold Plum are fresh eating (8\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10), canning and freezing (6\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Brookgold Plum?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Brookgold Plum with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Brookgold Plum ship?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA dormant bare-root plant, roots wrapped in moist sawdust with a vapor barrier, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring. Sizes offered: 4-6 ft or 6-7 ft. We guarantee our plants bud out. Stone fruits can be slow, so if one still has not budded out by August 15, write to us and we credit you for the following spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Prairie Red Plum Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45177625444418,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Prairie Red Plum Semi-Dwarf: 6-7 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45177625477186,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/golden-plums-on-branch.jpg?v=1791615421"},{"product_id":"brookred-plum","title":"Brookred Plum (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Brookred Plum is a plum tree rated hardy to zone 2 in our ratings (winters to -50°F), and not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for a hybrid or Japanese plum).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 2 to 7. A bare number means the whole of zone 2, colder half included (winters to -50°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 700 hours (500 to 900). From published figures. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#brookred-plum\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeeds Cross-Pollination. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), early spring here. Brookred needs another Japanese plum such as Ptitsin #5, or a Native American plum, nearby. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/brookgold-plum\"\u003eBrookgold\u003c\/a\u003e will not pollenize it. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ptitsin-5-plum\"\u003ePtitsin #5 Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/native-american-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003eNative American Plum (Bundle of 3)\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/toka-plum\"\u003eToka Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kaga-plum\"\u003eKaga Plum\u003c\/a\u003e and 14 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/plum-pollination-map\"\u003ePlum Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePrairie Red Plum: semi-dwarf, about 10 to 15 ft tall unpruned. A seed-grown American plum hybrid from the USDA plant materials center in Bismarck; it suckers. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eJams and jellies (8\/10), fresh eating (7\/10), canning and freezing (7\/10), pies and baking (6\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA deer favorite. Fence it or cage it.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhere it came from\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRead about \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/canadian-prairie-breeding-stations\"\u003ethe Canadian prairie breeding stations\u003c\/a\u003e and what else came out of it.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 4-6 ft or 6-7 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOne of the hardiest plums known.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBred on the Alberta Prairie\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrookred came out of the same program as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/brookgold-plum\"\u003eBrookgold\u003c\/a\u003e, the Crop Diversification Centre South in Brooks, Alberta. It's a hybrid of Japanese and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/native-american-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003eAmerican plum\u003c\/a\u003e, and that American plum in its background is a big part of why it handles prairie winters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSize: medium\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSkin: dusky pinkish red\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFlesh: golden, firm but still juicy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePit: freestone\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe firmer flesh makes Brookred the more versatile of the two Brooks plums. It holds up for cooking and baking, it's good fresh, and it really shines in jam.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrookred is new for us, so we'll add our own notes once our trees are fruiting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003eAbout the photo: this isn’t Brookred itself. Photos of Brookred are either under copyright or simply unavailable, so we picked the open-source image that looks closest to the fruit. Photo: “Three ripe plums hanging on a tree branch” by Zulfugar Karimov, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/three-ripe-plums-hanging-on-a-tree-branch-vKJS93Y6zbI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eUnsplash\u003c\/a\u003e, under the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/license\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eUnsplash License\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Brookred Plum\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Brookred Plum need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Brookred Plum needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. Brookred needs another Japanese plum such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ptitsin-5-plum\"\u003ePtitsin #5\u003c\/a\u003e, or a \u003ca href=\"\/products\/native-american-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003eNative American plum\u003c\/a\u003e, nearby. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/brookgold-plum\"\u003eBrookgold\u003c\/a\u003e will not pollenize it. Partners we carry include Ptitsin #5 Plum, Native American Plum (Bundle of 3), \u003ca href=\"\/products\/toka-plum\"\u003eToka Plum\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Brookred Plum?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Brookred Plum hardy to zone 2, which means winters down to about -50°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Brookred Plum need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 700 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 500 and 900. That comes from published figures for this variety. Listed at 700 chill hours, in line with other Japanese-American hybrid plums, so any cold-winter site covers it easily. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#brookred-plum\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Brookred Plum get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Brookred Plum onto \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-red-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003ePrairie Red Plum\u003c\/a\u003e (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 10 to 15 ft tall if you never prune it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Brookred Plum good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Brookred Plum are jams and jellies (8\/10), fresh eating (7\/10), canning and freezing (7\/10), pies and baking (6\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Brookred Plum?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Brookred Plum with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Brookred Plum ship?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA dormant bare-root plant, roots wrapped in moist sawdust with a vapor barrier, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring. Sizes offered: 4-6 ft or 6-7 ft. We guarantee our plants bud out. Stone fruits can be slow, so if one still has not budded out by August 15, write to us and we credit you for the following spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Prairie Red Plum Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45177627344962,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Prairie Red Plum Semi-Dwarf: 6-7 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45177627377730,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/photo-1762328868487-3054874f5361.jpg?v=1791617882"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/collections\/prairie-red-plum-on-tree.webp?v=1792787093","url":"https:\/\/www.montanafruittrees.com\/collections\/zone-2-plum-trees.oembed","provider":"Montana Fruit Trees","version":"1.0","type":"link"}