Shiro Plum

We don't have long-term data from our own mother trees of Shiro yet, so everything below is secondhand for now.

Overview

Shiro is an early yellow plum from Luther Burbank, with flesh so translucent you can see the pit through it. It's a sweet, mild, juicy plum for eating fresh right off the tree.

Origin and History

Burbank introduced it in California in the late 1890s (Cummins says 1898, Fedco says 1899). The parentage isn't settled. Hedrick's The Plums of New York (1911) lists a mix of four plum species, Cummins gives Robinson, Myrobalan and Wickson, and Fedco just calls it uncertain. It's also been called Late Klondike.

Fruit and Uses

Cummins describes a "pretty golden-yellow" plum, "sometimes with a delicate pink blush," with light, translucent yellow flesh that's tender, melting, "sweet and mild with a slightly tart skin." Hedrick was harder on it, calling the flavor almost insipid, but he said the flesh was "tender, melting and juicy and so translucent that the pit can be seen through the flesh." It's very early, around mid-July in New York per Cummins, about 50 days before Stanley. It doesn't keep or ship well once it's ripe, so plan to eat it or use it fast.

Growth Habit and Spacing

Ours are on Lovell peach rootstock, which is full size for a stone fruit but more like a semi-dwarf compared to an apple. Plan on 15 to 18 feet between trees. Fedco says Shiro tends to grow broad and spreading rather than tall. Both Hedrick and Cummins say it's susceptible to brown rot.

Pollination

Shiro blooms early. Cummins says it's partially self-fertile but should be planted with another early-blooming Japanese plum for good crops, and Fedco says plant at least one other Japanese or hybrid plum. Brookgold, Underwood, Kuban Delight and Ptitsin #5 all bloom early to mid.

Cold Hardiness

We have Shiro listed at zone 4, but every published rating we've found is zone 5 or warmer (Cummins, Fedco and Dave Wilson Nursery), and Hedrick called the tree "tender to cold." Plant it in a warm spot and don't count on it much below -20F until we have our own data.