Shropshire Prune - Damson Trees

Shropshire Prune Damson - Damson Trees

Shropshire Prune damson is a classic damson, radiant purple fruit with a seriously astringent flavour when fresh - too much so for most palates, but mouth-wateringly delicious after cooking. Shropshire Prune damson makes incomparable jam or compote and after being dried into a prune, it can be an excellent ingredient in savoury dishes as well. Prune damsons are picked from September onwards and though the crop size is not as spectacular as from some other damson trees and the fruit are quite small, once tasted a Shropshire Pune damson is not forgotten. This is a very old English variety, and so you can rely on this tree to thrive in the North; it is also better than most plums in very damp soil, as long as it is not entirely waterlogged.

Shropshire Damson Prune's History and Parentage

The mists of time have swallowed any information about this tree's parents. There is a reference to it from the 1670's, when prunes were a very widely used winter food, naming it as the Shropshire Prune; these days the name Damson Prune is more common. Although there is still some debate, there is a general consensus that damsons are the ancestors of plums and not the other way around. This is supported by strong evidence that damsons were cultivated by humans around 10,000 years ago, making them one of the first domesticated plants.

Damson Tree Pollination guide for Prunus institia Shropshire Prune Damson

This tree is self-fertile and has no need for a pollination partner. That said, even with a natural self pollinator such as Shropshire Prune, cross-pollination can only improve the quality of the fruit and if you would like a suitable match, we would recommend Dennistons Superb, which also flowers in late April and has a ready to eat sweetness that contrasts very well indeed with the sharp flavour of the damson.

Damsons are much more forgiving than plum trees; they have been in the UK for far longer and are naturally hardier. However, they are similar, need the same treatment and can suffer from the same diseases, in particular silver leaf fungus - always prune stone fruit in summer to reduce the risk of this.

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Delivery:
The basic delivery charge for all orders containing fruit trees of any size (bareroot or pot-grown) is £12.55 + VAT.
Because couriers sometimes experience delays, we schedule delivery by week, not by day. Therefore, please plan your planting day for the weekend at the end of the delivery week or for the week following delivery, at the earliest.
You can choose the delivery week that suits you during checkout and we will email you the day before your plants are due to arrive.

Payment: We do not charge your card until we begin to prepare your order for packing.

Guarantee: If any plants die within a year, we will replace them. We only ask that you follow our planting & growing instructions and sent us clear photographs of the dead plants in situ, so we can help to make sure that the replacement plants succeed. You only pay for the delivery of the replacements.

Please note that our guarantee is void if there is a hosepipe ban in your area: your newly planted fruit trees must be watered in dry weather while they are establishing. The best way to water is very thoroughly every few days: at least once a week if there is no heavy rain.

Our nursery has been supplying container grown and bareroot fruit trees to gardeners and orchard owners since 1949. Our website started in 2003, so we do understand the concerns that you may have about buying fruit trees online. If any of your plants are damaged when they arrive or if you are otherwise not satisfied with your order after you inspect it, please repackage it and contact us. We will give you a refund or send replacements and send a courier to come and collect the unwanted plants.

Your 12 Month Guarantee

If any plants die within a year, we replace them if you have followed our instructions. You only pay for the delivery of the replacements.

Place an order for £250 excluding VAT and delivery and we deliver it for FREE!

Bare-root Plants are only delivered in the winter season, from November to March. Pot grown plants can be delivered all year round

Advantages of Bare-root plants:

You pay less for the same size plants.

You can carry and plan them easily.

You only plant them in winter, so they need less maintenance after planting. The rain will water them for their first few months.

You get the biggest selection: Many trees are not sold pot-grown.

They are "asleep" in winter - this is the best time to transplant any tree.

They use fewer fertilisers & fungicides, less water and fuel in their production & delivery.

Advantages of Pot Grown plants:

Pot grown plants can be delivered & planted all year round.

Plants with tender roots & larger specimens must be delivered in pots.

Plants in pots can be kept for months longer if there is a delay in planting.

Our Advice to You:
If you can't wait to get planting, order Pot grown plants now.
If you are not in a hurry, order bare-root plants for delivery this winter. Simply add them to your basket and choose a winter delivery date that suits you during checkout. This will reserve your plants before they sell out.
We won't charge you until the day before delivery, so cancelling your order is always easy.

If you are only ordering chemicals and other small items, delivery is £3.50

Our delivery charge for most bareroot plants is £9.49 + VAT.

If your order contains any standard sized trees, fruit trees or pot-grown plants, then the delivery charge is £12.55 + VAT in TOTAL.

If you live in the Scottish Highlands or the Isle of Wight, there will be an extra charge of £15 + VAT on top of the appropriate basic charge, as listed above.

If your order is over £250 exc. VAT, there will be no delivery charge.

If you are uncertain, just add items to your basket which will calculate the basic shipping charge for you.