Most people only know the cherry plum colloquially as "red mirabelle". We explain why this name is actually wrong and show why it is still worth growing the delicious fruit in your own garden.
Have you ever bitten into a red mirabelle plum and realized that it tastes completely different from its yellow relative? The reason for this is simple: there are no red mirabelle plums. Mirabelles are always yellow, at most with red markings. "Red mirabelle plums" are actually cherry plums (Prunus cerasifera).
Origin & characteristics of the cherry plum
The cherry plum was already known to the Celts. It is even older than the plum (Prunus domestica), because it was created by crossing cherry plum and sloe (Prunus spinosa). The plant originally comes from Central Asia, from where it was introduced to Central Europe. Since then it has been used as a rootstock for grafting various Prunus species and is therefore often found growing wild in bushes in fruit-growing areas. If you are not familiar with the cherry plum, you might also know the plant under the names "Myrobalane" or "Wilde Mirabelle".
Cherry plum trees grow no more than eight meters tall. Instead of growing tall, they tend to grow in width and often even develop multi-stemmed crowns. Sometimes the fine branches of the cherry plum have thorns that hide behind the finely serrated leaves, which can be up to three inches long.
In spring, before this is the case with sloe and mirabelle plum (Prunus domestica subsp. syriaca), the intensely scented ones appear Blossoms. They are white in color but soft pink on the inside. Due to the early flowering time, cherry plums are important for numerous insects that otherwise do not have many food sources available.
What distinguishes the cherry plum from the Mirabelle?
The difference between mirabelle and cherry plum isnot easy to spot.
During flowering, cherry plums can be distinguished from mirabelle plums primarily by their bare flower stalks.
Later, when the two to three centimeter fruits appear, the fruit color is an important clue. While plum trees only bear yellow fruit, cherry plums can be yellow, red or purple in color. The difference becomes particularly apparent when inspecting the fruit. While the flesh of the Mirabelle plum easily separates from the pit, the pit of the cherry plum is rather difficult to remove. In addition, cherry plums taste more sour than sweet mirabelle plums.
Is the cherry plum poisonous?
Cherry plums are not poisonous at all. The fruits can be enjoyed just as much from the tree as mirabelle plums or plums. Whether the taste is a pleasure with cherry plums always depends on the variety. While some trees bear exquisite fruit, other cherry plums taste rather bland. So it's a good idea to taste it before harvest.
Best Edible Cherry Plum Varieties
The wild Mirabelle is represented by a few remarkable varieties. However, these are mostly self-sterile and should therefore be planted close to other varieties.
- 'Nigra': The dark beauty bears dark red foliage and pink flowers. The sweet fruits are also dark red and ripen in August.
- 'Trailblazer'/'Hollywood': This variety is primarily known for its large fruits with a diameter of up to five centimetres. They ripen in September and are burgundy red. The foliage of this variety is also reddish brown.
- 'Zloty Oblok': The variety from Poland bears juicy-sweet and extremely aromatic fruits. Similar to mirabelle plums, their fruits are yellow and ripen in September. The tree is quite small and reaches heights of between four and six meters.
Planting a cherry plum tree: location and procedure
Cherry plums are often used as a grafting base for other fruit trees because they are quite robust. In principle, almost all soils are suitable. The soil should just not be too sandy, but still well-drained and have a pH between six and eight. Cherry plums feel particularly good in the sun or in light shade, where they are not disturbed by the wind. In addition, theTrees very hardy. When it comes to watering, you can rest assured that cherry plum trees only need water in extremely dry conditions. Only young plants should be given a portion of water from time to time until their roots have developed sufficiently.
So place your cherry plum in a sunny spot, either as a specimen tree or in a hedge. The following conditions are ideal for planting a cherry plum tree.
What is the perfect spot for a cherry plum tree?
- Porous soil, not too sandy pH between 6 and 8
- Sun or light shade
- Plant is wind and winter hardy
- Plant as a standalone or hedge plant
The right fertilization and care
Cherry plum trees do not need further fertilization. They are undemanding and grow excellently even when left to grow wild without care. However, if you plan to fertilize to increase fruit yield, then you should be careful not to give too much nitrogen. A portion of compost in spring or some Plantura organic universal fertilizer is ideal.
In order to promote the formation of humus in the soil, we recommend incorporating a soil activator such as our Plantura organic soil activator into the soil. This ensures he althy soil life in the long term and creates the ideal growth conditions for your cherry plum.
If you don't want your tree to grow wildly, it's important to get it in shape regularly. A pruning can be done every two to three years or annually for young trees. You can prune the tree after flowering, always cutting diseased or dead branches back into the he althy wood.
Harvest cherry plums: When is the time?
Cherry plums usually ripen early, around June, but the time of ripening varies greatly depending on the variety. For example, the fruits of the 'Zloty Oblok' variety do not ripen until September. Harvest time is when the fruit is completely colored. Then you should definitely grab it, otherwise the pulp will quickly become mealy.
Storing and using cherry plums
Cherry plums can unfortunately only be stored for a few days. It is advisable not to wash the fruit and to keep it cool and dark. With soft and almost overripe fruitit better to consume them immediately. To keep the cherry plums longer, you can also process cherry plums. For example, cherry plum jam or jam tastes wonderful. However, since the pit is difficult to remove, you should first boil down the whole fruit and then pass it through a sieve to remove the pit.
Anyone interested in classic plums as well as cherry plums will find everything you need to know about planting a plum tree in the garden here.