Empress plum tree

Prunus domestica 'Empress'

Empress european plums for sale

• Full-size 1-year bare-root tree $40.95
  Mature height: 16ft-24ft after 10 years
  Vigorous rootstock
  

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Empress is a very late season European plum, notable for its rich sweet flavor.

The dark blue / purple plums are usually ready to pick in mid-September, but will hang on the tree for much longer if allowed to. They can be kept fresh in a fridge for several weeks, which is also much longer than most European plums.

The green/yellow flesh is quite dry, which makes it excellent for use in the kitchen. The stone is semi-clinging.

How to grow

Empress is fairly easy to grow, and although not self-fertile, is readily pollinated by most other late-flowering European plum varieties.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

History

Empress is a very old variety of uncertain origins. It is widely known in Europe as Blue Imperatrice, the name apparently being shortened to Empress when it was introduced to North America.

Empress characteristics

• Gardening skillAverage
• Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
• Pollination group5
• Pollinating othersAverage
• Bearing regularityRegular
• Picking seasonVery late
• UsesDryingDual purpose
• CroppingGood
• Keeping (of fruit)2-3 weeks
• General resistanceGood
• Cold hardiness (USDA)(5) -20F / -29C
• Period of origin1700 - 1749
• Flesh colourGolden / Yellow
• Fruit colorBlue - darkPurple - light
• Fruit sizeAverage
• Cling-stoneSemi-freestone