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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.   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.   Self-fertile Plums can be planted without a Pollinator but will have larger yields with a companion of another plum variety - options showing. 

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.
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
Early
Pollinator
Self-fertile
Comment
Great for desserts, bottling, jam and chutney. 

Cultivar
Angelino
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Santa Rosa, Fortune, Black Amber
Comment
Fruit has red skin with sweet yellow flesh.

Cultivar
*Angelina Burdett
Type
European
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Self-fertile, Greengage
Comment
Sweet flavoursome fruit, eat fresh or dessert.

Cultivar
Billingtons Early
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Self-fertile, Black Doris
Comment
A small meaty plum known as "Christmas Plum".

Cultivar
Black Amber
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Santa Rosa, Satsuma
Comment
Firm juicy large fruit, black skin creamy flesh.

Cultivar
Black Doris
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
partially Self-fertile improve with Elephant Heart, Santa Rosa,
Comment
Dark skin and flesh, sweet eating or preserving.

Cultivar
Burbank
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Self-fertile, Santa Rosa, Duffs Early Jewel
Comment
Large fruit, Good cropper.

Cultivar
Coes Golden Drop
Type
European
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Greengage, Reine Claude de Bavay
Comment
Large tasty golden fruit.

Cultivar
Damson
Type
European
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Self-fertile
Comment
Heavy cropper, culinary plum, great for bottling and sauce.

Cultivar
Duffs Early Jewel
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Self-fertile, Santa Rosa
Comment
Delicious eating or preserving.

Cultivar
Elephant Heart
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Santa Rosa, Sultan
Comment
Heart shaped large fruit, freestone. 

Cultivar
Fortune
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Santa Rosa, Billington
Comment
Large sweet, golden flesh with bright red skin.

Cultivar
Freedom
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Santa Rosa
Comment
Dark Red fruit, tree has upright habit.

Cultivar
Greengage
Type
European
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Coes Golden Drop
Comment
Great to eat, preserve or for desserts. 

Cultivar
Hawera
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Self-fertile
Comment
NZ Plum, dark red large fruit, excellent eating.

Cultivar
Luisa
Type
European
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Self-fertile
Comment
Golden flesh, pick and eat straight from the tree.

Cultivar
MacVerna
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Billingtons, Wilsons Early
Comment
Sweet tasting, large red fruit.

Cultivar
McLean
Type
Cherry Plum
Ripe
Pollinator
Mid
Comment
self-fertile

Cultivar
Omega George Wilson
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Santa Rosa, Duffs Early Jewel
Comment
High quality fruit, juicy red flesh.

Cultivar
Pernel
Type
Cherry Plum
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Self-fertile
Comment
Small plum, makes great tasty jam.

Cultivar
Plumcot
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Duffs Early Jewel, Santa Rosa
Comment
Sweet eating with intense flavour. 

Cultivar
Plumcot Spring Satin
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
partially Self-fertile Santa Rosa
Comment
Great taste, high yields.

Cultivar
Purple King
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Duffs Early Jewel, Red Doris
Comment
Large purple fruit, yellow skin.

Cultivar
Queen Rosa
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Santa Rosa, Satsuma
Comment
Large juicy, round fruit, eat straight from the tree.

Cultivar
*Red Beaut
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Santa Rosa, Billingtons
Comment
Medium fruit, juicy and sweet, good eating.

Cultivar
Red Doris
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Duffs Early Jewel, Santa Rosa
Comment
Generous yields, lovely flavoursome fruit.

Cultivar
Reine Claude de Bavay
Type
European
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Self-fertile
Comment
Heritage plum. Heavy reliable cropper, green fruit.

Cultivar
Rose Zee
Type
European
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Santa Rosa
Comment
Handsome shaped tree, with sweet juicy fruit. 

Cultivar
Ruby Queen
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Santa Rosa
Comment
Top yielding plum, Red skin and flesh.

Cultivar
Santa Rosa
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Partially Self-fertile, Omega, Black Doris
Comment
Considered as the best tasting plum! 

Cultivar
Satsuma
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Partially Self-fertile, Santa Rosa
Comment
Good all-rounder, sweet juicy plum.

Cultivar
Sharps Early
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Self-fertile
Comment
Delicious yellow flesh, skin red on yellow.

Cultivar
Shiro
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Santa Rosa
Comment
Fruit firm and juicy and great taste. 

Cultivar
Sultan
Type
Japanese
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
Partially Self-fertile, Santa Rosa
Comment
Large oval shape, sweet flavour.

Cultivar
Teak Gold
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Late, slow maturing
Pollinator
Elephant Heart
Comment
Burgundy coloured fruit, Tasty, nice eating.

Cultivar
Victoria
Type
European
Ripe
Mid
Pollinator
semi-self-fertile, Santa Rosa
Comment
Heavy yields, nice eating, or jam plum.

Cultivar
Victoria Sinclair
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Self-fertile
Comment
Old English variety, reliable cropper, use for eating and jam.

Cultivar
Victory
Type
European
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Prune Italian, Prune Stanley
Comment
High yielding with large, yellow fleshy fruit.    

Cultivar
Wilsons Early
Type
Hybrid
Ripe
Early
Pollinator
Partially Self-fertile, Billingtons
Comment
Nice eating straight off the tree, preserving.

Cultivar
Prune Plum Cheviot
Type
European
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Self-fertile
Comment
Heavy cropper, yellow flesh fruit, good for drying.

Cultivar
Prune Plum Italian
Type
European
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Self-fertile
Comment
Heritage, freestone, eat, dry and bottle.

Cultivar
Prune Plum Stanley
Type
European
Ripe
Late
Pollinator
Self-fertile
Comment
Heavy cropper, sweet, juicy fruit, good for drying.


HL Nurseries Limited t/a Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: