Cordon Plum Tree
Plenty of plums, minimal space
Grown by Mike
Roots' Cotswolds Valley Nursery
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Pre-order
Currently out of stock
Pre-order for delivery by Late November
Pre-order for delivery by Late November
Pre-order for delivery by Late November
Plant diary
- Flower
- Harvest
Cordon Plum Tree
- Have you ever wanted to grow a plum tree but felt as though you don’t have the room? Well, do we have some good news for you… Cordon fruit trees comprise a vertical trunk with short, fruiting spurs branching off the side, leading to a much narrower fruit tree that still produces good yields – result!
- ‘Victoria’ is our grower’s favourite plum tree and widely thought of as the best plum variety out there – easy to grow and yielding delicious sticky plums, there’s a reason why it’s so popular!
- ‘Opal’ boasts small, perfectly formed plums with a comparable flavour profile to ‘Victoria’ (which, as we’ve established, is a pretty good variety to take after…)
- ‘Jubilee’ produces sizable plums, displays great disease resistance and, just to top it all off, is very hardy. Where do we sign?
- Our growers have expertly established the proper cordon shape for your plum tree, so all you need to do is prune your tree each year to help retain its shape. The main pruning should be done in summer, with occasional winter pruning also necessary. Here’s what you need to do:
- Towards the back end of August, cut shoots that are over 20 centimetres long, trimming back to a single leaf beyond the cluster of leaves at the base of the current year’s growth (often referred to as the basal cluster)
- If you find that your cordon’s spurs are becoming overly crowded – which can happen with more established trees – then thin out some of the older spurs which haven’t fruited quite so well (this should be done in winter)
- Please note: this page includes selected AI-assisted imagery for illustrative purposes.
What to expect
Supplied as
Height on arrival
Eventual height
Eventual spread
Time to first crop
Flower colour
Habit
Hardiness
Self fertile
Pollination group
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Rootstock
Spacing
Will this grow in my garden?
Can I grow this in a pot?
Yes, a cordon plum tree can be grown in a large pot of at least 50 litres, provided it has a sturdy cane or trellis for support.
How big does it get?
The cordon plum tree typically reaches a height of 1.8 to 2.5 metres, with a narrow spread of about 0.5 to 0.9 metres.
How much sunlight does this need?
The cordon plum tree requires a sunny location, ideally receiving at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily to produce a good yield.
What kind of soil does this plant prefer?
The cordon plum tree prefers a moist but well-drained, loamy soil, and it can adapt well to slightly heavier clay soils if they are adequately drained.
How much watering does this plant need?
The cordon plum tree needs about 10 to 15 litres of water weekly, ensuring the soil remains moist, especially during the critical fruit-swelling period in mid-summer.
Will this plant need pruning?
Yes, the cordon plum tree requires pruning in mid-summer to minimise the risk of silver leaf disease. Regular pruning is essential to preserve the trained shape.
How hardy is this plant?
Plum trees are hardy to H5, tolerating temperatures down to -15°C, but they perform best in sheltered positions to protect their early spring blossoms from frost damage.
The wider garden
Roots' Cotswolds Valley Nursery
Meet Mike
Tree-growing skills honed right across the globe
Having started out in Australia, studied in Northern Ireland and volunteered at an organic farm in Sweden, it’s fair to say Mike’s done his fair share of travel on his horticultural journey, so far! Having happily laid down roots here at Roots, Mike is the don behind our tree-growing operation, imparting each and every one of his globally-honed skills to benefit your garden. Grown in our purpose-built nursery, in the ideal climatic conditions of the fertile Vale of Evesham, we’re proud to supply only the happiest, healthiest and hardiest trees.
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