Czar Plum Trees

Prunus domestica Czar Plum Trees

A Czar is a medium sized, purple skinned plum that darkens as it ripens on the branch with very tangy tasting, yellow flesh. Although they are regarded as cooking plums because of their acidity, this plum is good eating for anyone who likes a little more bite to their fruit. The tree's crop is regular year to year and the first fruit are ready nice and early, usually before mid-August. After a few weeks, when their skins become almost black, they are a little sweeter and even juicier. Czar plums are naturally excellent for making jams and preserves; by using a little less sugar, you can create a really intense jam to get you going in the morning...

Czar's History and Parentage

These plums were named in honour of the Russian Emperor Alexander II, who had visited England in May of 1874, while the first crop was beginning to grow. There is no record of him eating one, although it is possible that he could have received a pie. A few years prior to that, Mr Thomas Rivers had planted his cross of Prince Englebert with Early Prolific. Englebert is quite similar to the Czarlarger and less potentand Early Prolific donated the same qualities for which it was named.

plum Tree Pollination guide for Prunus domestica Czar

While it is often said that cross-pollinated trees produce a bigger crop and tastier fruit, Czar is fully self-fertile and crops reliably, aided by its comparatively hardy nature, in the face of frost. The white flowers in April would be ideal pollinators for a Greengage which produces much sweeter fruit to contrast with the Czar's lip-smacking sharp flavour. The two in the same plum pudding are a joy.

plum trees require careful planting, positioning is important and there are some vital points about how to prune your tree, which can be vulnerable to silver leaf fungus if wounded at the wrong time. Our little guide to looking after plum trees in the Fruit Tree Planting & Care section of the website covers all the essential information you need to get your tree off to a great start.

If you are unclear about fruit tree sizes take a look at our Guide to Fruit Tree Sizing