Prunus domestica Mirablue - Common plum

Prunus domestica Mirablue is a variety of Plum that will find its place in any garden. Its miniature size even allows it to be grown in a container on a terrace or balcony. It forms a small tree of only 1.5m (5ft) in height, with a spread of less than 1m (3ft). Self-fertile, it blooms in March with white flowers that attract bees. They develop into elongated plums during the summer, with a beautiful blue colour, ripening towards the end of August. Their firm flesh is very sweet. These plums can be eaten fresh, as well as in pies or jams. Very hardy, this Plum tree should be grown in full sun in well-drained ordinary soil. 

Plum trees belong to the vast family of Rosaceae, which includes most of our temperate climate fruit trees (Apple trees, Pear trees, Apricot trees, Peach trees, Cherry trees, Quince trees...) as well as small fruits (Blackberries, Raspberry bushes, Strawberry plants). The genus Prunus itself is extremely large, with over 300 species, including both fruit-bearing (Almond trees, Peach trees...) and ornamental trees and shrubs. Prunus domestica is a small, hardy tree that can grow up to 1000m (3281ft) in altitude and in the eastern part of France. It is probably native to Asia Minor (Syria) and would have been introduced to Rome, along with many other species, as a result of Roman conquests. According to some authors, its introduction to Europe may be more closely linked to the Crusades, who really knows?
"Mirablue" is a particularly interesting variety for small gardens due to its considerably smaller size compared to the botanical species. This variety is self-fertile and therefore does not require pollination by another Plum tree. In March, clusters of simple white flowers appear, a few centimeters in diameter, with 5 petals, attracting bees. Once pollinated, the flowers develop into drupes, the fleshy fruits with stones that are plums. These plums have an elongated shape and a beautiful dark blue colour. They ripen at the end of August and can be harvested until September. Their firm and juicy flesh is very sweet and pleasantly refreshing. These fruits can be eaten fresh from harvest and can also be used in pies or jams. Plums are thirst-quenching fruits and relatively low in calories, rich in vitamin E.
Hardy to at least -20°C, it is an easy-to-cultivate tree, resistant to diseases and not very demanding once well-established. If you choose to grow this Plum tree in a container, make sure to water it well to avoid root drying and prefer 'double-skinned' plastic pots (with an insulating layer of air) or thick terracotta pots.

This dwarf Plum tree Mirablue allows you to enjoy fruit without taking up space in the garden or even on your balcony. Nowadays, there is a whole range of dwarf fruit trees that can be grown this way. With Apple trees, you will be tempted by Croquella, a self-fertile variety of crisp and fragrant red apples of the same size as Mirablue. If you like cherries, the Columnar Cherry tree Sylvia will delight you with its upright habit reaching 1.50m (5ft) in height. The Dwarf Peach tree Amber Pix Zee with its long and narrow decorative leaves has the same compact size as the previous ones, as well as the Dwarf Pear tree Garden Pearl with fruits as large as the classic varieties. This allows you to enjoy delicious fruits throughout the growing season, even in a small garden...