Like their cerise , apricot and peach relatives , plum are members of the rose family unit and form stone fruits : get a hard cum pit in their centers . The change ' Bruce ' develops fruits with a sweet but mellowed feel . Plant an extra plum tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree nearby to ensure excellent pollination of flower in very former spring . nerveless , rainy atmospheric condition in early spring follow by irregular late frosts can decrease anthesis and fruit on ' Bruce ' . Grow it in USDA hardiness zone 6 through 8 .

Origins

This hybrid plum resulted from a hereditary interbreeding between the Japanese plum ( Prunus salicina ) and the American native Chickasaw plum ( Prunus angustifolia ) . As such , its right botanic name is Prunus ' Bruce ' , although many list or deal this variety show as Prunus salicina ' Bruce ' . It was precede into trade in 1921 by A. L. Bruce of Donelly County , Texas .

Description

Growing to a matured size of about 15 to 20 feet , its offset and canopy are open and spreading in habit . Depending on climate , the modest five - petaled bloodless flowers start opening in very late wintertime to early spring , constitute them prostrate to tardy frosts . The leave of absence are medium green and tapering ovals . The abundant numbers of fruits mature with pelt of semitransparent salmony orange - red with sweet yellow flesh . glean them in late outflow ; this is a very early - season plum .

Growing Requirements

Plant Bruce plum tree in a fertile , moist but well - draining soil in full sun , receive at least 8 hours of lineal sun day by day . It abide mellow summer heating and humidness and many soil eccentric . The Nipponese plum tree line of descent run to give this variety a " self - fertile " caliber , meaning its own flower numbers should result in tolerable pollenation by Apis mellifera . For first-class fruit solidifying , consider planting at least two Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree within 100 feet of each other for heightened cross - pollination . assortment ' Methley ' is a good familiar pollinator tree . The Bruce plum tree postulate 500 chilling hours in winter to bloom and fruit . In some colder winter area of USDA geographical zone 9 , this variety may be worthwhile .

Considerations

If untimely spring frost often pass in your area and menace harming the plum ’s blossoms , posit the tree on a sunny hillside slope and out of frigid winds , perhaps shelter near an outbuilding or evergreen plant orchard . Do not imbed in low areas prone to settling cold breeze pockets . If bloom turn bootleg after a frost , they will not develop into fruits . quash function of pesticide in your overall landscape to ensure that pollinate insects are always in their highest figure .

Uses

If fruit set is not important , Bruce plum tree acts as an attractive small flowering tree with a countrified appearing . The white-hot bloom await best when contrast from behind by a dark - colored bodily structure or evergreen tree . The fruit ripen betimes and will attract bird ; run through the fruit fresh , preserved in jams and jellies , or canned .

References

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