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Identify plum tree to plant another as pollinator

2 years ago

This is sad and pathetic. Three years ago, I planted what I thought was one Satsuma and one Shiro plum tree. Last week I noticed that one of them isn't a plum at all, but an apple tree. I cannot find a tag on the plum, so I have no idea whether it's Satsuma or Shiro.

Question: Do plum trees have any characteristics to identify the variety? Leaves, bark, etc.?

If there's no way to tell, my choices for pollination seem to be:

Plant two more trees - a Satsuma and a Shiro.
Plant a plum that would pollinate either.
Rip it out and plant a self-pollinator.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

<sigh>

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Comments (4)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
2 years ago
Both Shiro and Satsuma are Asian (or Japanese) plums and can be pollinated by any other Asian plum....choice #2 :-)

And to answer your primary question, you really need to see the fruit to determine variety. They all look pretty much identical otherwise.
sammymocha thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
socalnolympia
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Apricots can also pollinate Asian plum.

So to can Asian flowering (ornamental) plum.

You should always keep tags on your fruit trees so you (and future owners) know what they are.

Now that you lost the tag and can't remember which one you have, the most sensible option might be to buy some third variety of Asian plum that you know is different from what you have. Either that or buy two more trees of each variety.
sammymocha thanked socalnolympia
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Edward Laivo
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Shiro and Satsuma are entirely different varieties and easy to identify. The Shiro is a small yellow fruit that typically sets prolifically. The Satsuma is a greenish red skinned plum with very deep red flesh. Shiro is self fruitful and does not require a pollinator, but could be a good pollinator for the Satsuma.

In answer to your original question i would recommend planting another self fruitful variety that would pollinate the Satsuma if in fact that is the one that remains. That way if it is the Shiro that remains at least the new planting will not need any special variety to get it to set fruit. I would recommend either the Santa Rosa plum or the Beauty Plum.
sammymocha thanked Edward Laivo
sammymocha
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you!

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