Prunus domestica Opal - Common plum

The Opal Plum is a fairly vigorous, productive and regular variety. It produces small round, slightly oval, purple-red plums with juicy, tasty flesh. The harvest of this early variety starts in late July and continues into August. The Opal Plum is self-fertile and proves to be a very good pollinator. It is resistant to diseases.

The origin of plum trees is said to be Syria, not China. During the time of Roman rule in the region, various local fruits including plums were introduced to Rome. The Opal Plum is a variety selected in Sweden in 1925, in Alnarp. It is the result of cross-breeding: Early Favourite with Reine-Claude d'Oullins.

This fruit tree naturally grows up to 5m (16ft) tall at maturity. Its upright silhouette is good and it will be easy to harvest when pruned properly. It enjoys sunshine or partial shade, sheltered from the wind and grows in any type of rich, moist, deep and even heavy soil, without limestone.
Its leaves are ovate, almost oblong, toothed and slightly hairy.
Flowering occurs in late April when tree is completely covered in white flowers that appear on the previous year's shoots. They are self-fertile and this variety is perfect for pollinating many other plum trees.
It produces small round, slightly oval, purple-red plums with juicy and tasty flesh.

Plums can be eaten raw from the tree, in fruit salads, in desserts and pastries or as an accompaniment to meat dishes. They are made into jams, of course, but also into syrup fruits, compotes... They are also used to make brandy.