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Plum Pollinators
Plums are one of the most vigorous, tolerant and easiest of stone fruits to grow in NZ, they'll reward you with prolific crops for very little effort.   Plant in a sunny spot, that has good drainage; water in well during warmer dry months. 

To ensure best possible yields from your Plum trees, pest and disease prevention, especially for young trees, is recommended.  In late autumn - spray with Copper Oxychloride (fungicide) then, at least 14 days later in early winter, spray with Conqueror Oil and Lime Sulphur (pest/disease control).   

There is an extensive range of Plums available with over 2,000 known varieties!  

The most important thing to know about Plum trees is that most require a pollinator i.e. another plum tree planted nearby that will help cross pollinate the blossom in order for fruit to be produced. Nearby does not necessarily have to be in your garden but the chances of a good crop are improved greatly if the bees don't have to fly too far to do their job.

There are 3 main species of Plum and their hybrids sold in New Zealand. They are:-
European (Prunus domestica)  Includes many heritage varieties which usually perform better in cooler climates where they can be completely dormant in winter. Fruit is often very aromatic and smaller than the Japanese Plum.
Japanese (Prunus salicina)  Vigorous, more tolerant of warmer climates, tend to have large fleshy fruit.
Cherry Plums (Prunus cerasifera) - These tend to fruit first in the season with smaller fruit.

The chart below is an easy guide to find the correct pollinator for your favourite Plum tree. Self-fertile Plums can be planted without a Pollinator but will have larger yields with a companion of the same species

Ripening Season (this is a guide only and is dependent on location and environmental factors) ... 
             Early = December-January, Mid = January-February, Late = February-March


Cultivar
Allen
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Self fertile

Cultivar
Angelino
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Santa Rosa, Fortune, Black Amber

Cultivar
Angelina Burdett
Type
European
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Self fertile, Greengage

Cultivar
Billingtons Early
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Self-fertile, improve with Black Doris

Cultivar
Black Amber
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Santa Rosa, Satsuma

Cultivar
Black Doris
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Elephant Heart, Santa Rosa, Duffs Early Jewel

Cultivar
Burbank
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Self fertile, Santa Rosa, Omega, Duffs Early Jewel

Cultivar
Coes Golden Drop
Type
European
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Greengage, Reine Claude de Bavay

Cultivar
Damson
Type
European
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Self fertile

Cultivar
Duffs Early Jewel
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Self fertile, improve with Santa Rosa, Red Doris

Cultivar
Elephant Heart
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Santa Rosa, Sultan

Cultivar
Fortune
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Santa Rosa, Billington

Cultivar
Freedon
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Santa Rosa

Cultivar
Greengage
Type
European
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Coes Golden Drop, Damson, Reine Claude de Bavay

Cultivar
Hawera
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Self fertile

Cultivar
Lucy
Type
European
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Self fertile

Cultivar
Luisa
Type
European
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Self fertile

Cultivar
Mac Verna
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Billingtons, Wilsons Early

Cultivar
Omega George Wilson
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Santa Rosa, Duffs Early Jewel

Cultivar
Pernel
Type
Cherry Plum
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Self fertile

Cultivar
Plumcot
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Duffs Early Jewel, Santa Rosa

Cultivar
Plumcot Scarlet Sunrise
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
partially Self fertile improve with Santa Rosa

Cultivar
Plumcot Spring Satin
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
partially Self fertile improve with Santa Rosa

Cultivar
Purple King
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Duffs Early Jewel, Red Doris

Cultivar
Queen Rosa
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Santa Rosa, Satsuma

Cultivar
Red Beaut
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Santa Rosa, Billington

Cultivar
Red Doris
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Duffs Early Jewel, Santa Rosa

Cultivar
Reine Claude de Bavay
Type
European
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Self fertile

Cultivar
Rose Zee
Type
European
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Santa Rosa 

Cultivar
Ruby Queen
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Santa Rosa

Cultivar
Santa Rosa
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Partially Self fertile, Omega, Black Doris

Cultivar
Satsuma
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Partially self fertile, Santa Rosa

Cultivar
Sharps Early
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Self fertile

Cultivar
Shiro
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Santa Rosa

Cultivar
Sultan
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Partially Self fertile, Santa Rosa, Elephant Heart

Cultivar
Victoria
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Self fertile

Cultivar
Victoria Sinclair
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Self fertile

Cultivar
Victory
Type
European
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Prune Italian, Prune Stanley  

Cultivar
Wilsons Early
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Partially Self fertile, Black Doris, Billington

Cultivar
Prune Plum Cheviot
Type
European
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
semi-self fertile, improve with Damson, Reine Claude de Bavay

Cultivar
Prune Plum Italian
Type
European
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
semi-self fertile, improve with Damson, Reine Claude de Bavay

Cultivar
Prune Plum Stanley
Type
European
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
semi-self fertile, improve with Damson, Reine Claude de Bavay


Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: