Shropshire Prune Damson Trees

• Variety: Shropshire Prune Damson, the old English cooking Damson
• Latin name: Prunus insititia 'Prune Damson'
• Sold as: Bareroot maiden, bush and half-standard
• Rootstock: St Julien A
• Mature size: Kept at 3 to 4m. 4.5 to 5m if left unpruned. Allow about 5m between trees
• Fruit: Small, deep purple, sharp raw and very good cooked. Larger than Farleigh Damson
• Picking: September
• Pollination: Group E. Self-fertile: one tree crops alone
• Flowering: Late, so the blossom usually misses the spring frosts
• Where it does well: The North, and damp ground that is not waterlogged
• Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators
• Hardiness: H6, hardy through the British winter
• RHS Award of Garden Merit: Yes (1998)
• Delivered: Bareroot, November to April. Collection from Castle Cary also available

Shropshire Prune is a very old English Damson: small, deep purple fruit, too sharp to eat off the tree and very good cooked, picked in September. It is a neat, regular cropper, self-fertile, and it flowers late enough to miss most spring frosts. It holds the Award of Garden Merit.

Shropshire Prune Damson Trees

'Shropshire Prune Damson' also known simply as the Prune Damson, it has radiant purple fruit with a seriously astringent flavour when fresh: too much so for most palates, but mouth-wateringly delicious after cooking. It 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 isn't as spectacular as from some other damson trees and the fruit are quite small, once tasted a Shropshire Prune damson isn't forgotten. This is a very old English variety, and so you can rely on this tree to thrive in the North; it's also the best of all the damson trees we sell in very damp soil, as long as it's not waterlogged.

Browse our range of plum & damson trees or the full variety of fruit trees.

History & Trivia

The mists of time have swallowed any information about this tree's parents. There is a reference to it from the 1670s, when prunes were a very widely used winter food, naming it as the Shropshire Prune; these days the name Prune Damson 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.

Pollination guide for Prune Damson

This tree is self-fertile and has no need for a pollination partner.

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

Planting Companions

One tree crops on its own, so plant a second Damson only if you want more fruit or a different season. Merryweather also holds the award, and Farleigh carries smaller fruit than this one. The rest are with our Plum and Damson trees. Dust bareroot roots with Rootgrow as you plant.

Why Buy Your Damson Tree from Ashridge?

Ashridge has sold trees since 1949 and is a Which? Best Plant Supplier 2025. Your Shropshire Prune Damson tree is grafted onto St Julien A rootstock, and maidens are pre-pruned before despatch for the form you choose. Bareroot trees are lifted to order while dormant and guaranteed for 12 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Shropshire Prune need a pollination partner?

No. It is self-fertile, so one tree crops by itself.

When do you pick it?

September. Leave the fruit on the tree until it is fully coloured and soft.

Can you eat a Prune Damson raw?

You can, but you probably will not want to twice. It is sharp and astringent off the tree, and cooking turns it into something else entirely: jam, compote, cheese and gin.

How big does the tree grow?

On St Julien A rootstock, you can keep it at 3 to 4 metres with pruning. Left alone, it reaches 4.5 to 5 metres. Allow about 5 metres between trees.

Is it hardy enough for a northern garden?

Yes. It is a very old English variety that thrives in the North, and it flowers late enough to escape most spring frosts.

When should you prune a Plum tree?

In summer, never in winter. Plums can take in silver leaf disease through winter cuts.

Will it take heavy, damp soil?

Better than any other Damson we sell, as long as the ground is not waterlogged. It wants a moist soil that still drains, in full sun.

When are the trees delivered?

Bareroot only, from November to April, while the trees are dormant. You can order at any time of year and your tree is lifted and sent once the season opens.