Plums

Plums
Prunus domestica

Plums were the fruit of choice in the Evesham area during the 20th Century but they declined in popularity and most of the orchards have been grubbed out.
Our site at Hipton Hill is an excellent example of an old traditional plum orchard.
Below are varieties of plums growing in the Vale of Evesham and surrounding area.

Plum blossom

VLHT's Hipton Hill Orchard

Prolific

Prolific Plum

Prolific stone

Prolific plums

Prolific plum

Czar

Czar stone

Marjories Seedling

Marjories Seedling stone

Purple Pershore

Purple Pershore stone

Black Prince

Victoria

Victoria stone

Warwickshire Drooper

Warwickshire Drooper stone

Yellow Egg

Yellow Egg stone

Giant Prune
Prunus domestica
Sometimes referred to as the Burbank Plum (although the true Burbank is a variety of the species Prunus triflora).
The Giant Prune was raised by Luther Burbank at Santa Rosa, California, USA and introduced into commercial use in 1893.
Reference: National Fruit Collection http://www.nationalfruitcollection.org.uk/

Giant Prune

Giant Prune stone

Damson
(Prunus insititia)
A common hedgerow species and occasional orchard crop.
Very delicate blossom which falls apart when handled.
The tree often has 'witches brooms', resembling bird nests on the branches. These are the result of a fungal infection Taphrina insititiae.
Reference: J. Webster and R.W.S. Weber. Introduction to Fungi, third edition 2007. Cambridge University Press.
Follow this link for more information - http://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/fungi/ascomycota/taphrinomycetes/taphrinales/taphrina/taphrina-insititiae/

Damson blossom

Damson

Damson stone

Cherry Plum
Prunus cerasifera
Often planted in hedgerows and appearing occassionally in orchards as a small pollinator tree or due to growth from inappropriate use of this species as a root stock. This is the earliest flowering Prunus. There are several unidentified sports/varieties of Cherry Plum at Hipton.