Prunus salicina ‘Methley’ (Japanese Plum)

Prunus salicina ‘Methley’ is a small, upright Japanese plum tree with a wide spreading canopy clothed in elliptic, finely serrated, bright green leaves. In early spring, it bursts into a profusion of white blossoms that perfume the air with a fragrance reminiscent of Oriental incense. They are followed by a heavy crop of medium-sized, round to conical, purple-red plums of excellent flavor. The fruits ripen over a long season from early to mid-summer and require several pickings. The flesh is red, sweet, and very juicy. They are perfect for eating or making jelly. This Japanese plum tree is self-pollinating, but you may still want to plant pollinating partners to increase the size of your crops. Heat tolerant, Methley needs only a short period of winter dormancy. Because it blooms early, it is more susceptible to spring frost.

• Typically grows 20 ft. tall and wide (6 m) at maturity. The dwarf variety grows up to 8–10 ft. tall and wide (2-3 m).
• Performs best in full sun in loamy, mildly acidic to mildly alkaline soil, well-drained soils.
• This Japanese Plum tree will begin fruiting in 2-4 growing seasons.
• This plum tree has a chill hours requirement of 150-250 hours of temperatures below 45ºF (7ºC) in the winter for their buds to open in the spring).
• Train your plum tree when young to an open-center shape to ensure all branches are always bathed in light and air.
• Plums require minimal pruning, which should be done after flowering when the tree is still leafless. In maturity, prune mostly to let light into the tree’s center and to encourage a moderate amount of new growth for the following year’s fruit. About 20% of the new growth each year is removed to rejuvenate the tree and control spread.
• Hand-thin the fruits (if the crop is heavy) so they are 5 in. apart.
• Japanese plums can be picked before they are completely ripe since they will finish ripening off the tree.
• Look for bacterial canker, bacterial leaf spot, brown rot, and black knot.