Santa Rosa Plum
Prunus salicina 'Santa Rosa'Local DFW Delivery Only
Product Details
Santa Rosa Plum
Prunus salicina 'Santa Rosa'Santa Rosa Plum tree is an excellent choice for any landscape. This deciduous tree grows up to 15 feet in height and the same size across. It showcases its attractive bright green foliage and stunning white flowers in spring. Santa Rosa Plum is a delight in summer, too, yielding sweet fruit notable for its juicy, rich flavor.
- Clusters of white flowers against handsome foliage
- Purplish-crimson fruit in the summer
- Moderate-growth rate
- Thrives in full sun
- Great for borders and orchards
Santa Rosa Plum tree prospers in the North Texas climate. Plant it in well-drained soil and ensure enough spacing. It thrives in full sun, so make sure that it gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. Fertilize it in spring before it produces fruit. With proper care, your Santa Rosa Plum tree will reward you with beautiful blossoms and delicious fruit for many years to come.
Santa Rosa Plum is loved for its easy-going nature. This is all it needs to grow beautifully:
- Watering: Water deeply and consistently during the first growing season to help roots establish. Once mature, Santa Rosa Plum appreciates deep watering every 7-10 days during dry periods, especially while fruit is developing. Avoid overwatering or standing water.
- Pruning: Prune annually in late winter while dormant to shape the tree and open the canopy for light penetration and airflow. Remove dead or crossing branches, thin the interior, and shorten overly long limbs. Light pruning in midsummer after harvest can help control height and encourage strong renewal growth for the following season.
- Fertilizing: Feed in early spring with a slow-release, balanced fertilizer formulated for fruit trees. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which causes lush foliage with fewer blooms. A light feeding after harvest helps restore nutrients and supports the next year’s growth cycle.
- Mulching: Spread a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the root zone to retain soil moisture and regulate temperature. Keep mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent decay. Refresh yearly in spring to maintain moisture and deter weeds.
- Winter Care: Santa Rosa Plum is moderately hardy and performs best in regions with mild winters. In colder areas, mulch around the base in late fall and avoid pruning or fertilizing after midsummer to prevent late, frost-sensitive growth.
Santa Rosa Plum is strong and productive, but it may encounter a few manageable issues in humid or variable climates:
- Brown Rot: A fungal disease that affects blossoms, twigs, and fruit, causing brown spots and soft decay. Prune regularly to increase airflow, remove infected fruit and debris, and apply a fungicide at blossom time if conditions are persistently humid.
- Aphids: Small insects that cluster on tender shoots and undersides of leaves, leaving sticky residue that attracts ants. Wash them off with a firm spray of water or use insecticidal soap.
- Canker: Characterized by dark, sunken patches on branches or trunk areas. These wounds often follow physical injury or poor drainage. Prune affected branches well below the damaged tissue, disinfect tools between cuts, and maintain overall tree vigor through balanced fertilization.
- Japanese Beetles: These metallic-green beetles chew through leaves and fruit during midsummer. Shake them off in the early morning into soapy water or use pheromone traps set away from trees. Applying neem oil weekly during active infestations helps deter them.
Early spring or fall is ideal. Planting during mild temperatures gives roots time to establish before the intense heat of summer or the chill of winter.
Usually within 2-3 years of planting. Once mature, it becomes a consistent and heavy producer, often yielding generous crops of large, richly flavored plums each summer.
It’s partially self-fertile, meaning it can produce fruit alone, but yields improve significantly when planted near other Japanese plums such as ‘Methley,’ ‘Ozark Premier,’ or ‘Burgundy.’
Typically 20-25 years with good care, though trees may remain productive beyond that with annual pruning, consistent watering, and proper fertilization.
It’s a vigorous grower, often adding 1-2 feet of growth per year. Its fast rate makes it one of the quickest plums to fill a landscape with beauty and shade.
Absolutely. Its showy, fragrant white blossoms appear in early spring and attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, ensuring strong fruit set and supporting nearby flowering plants.
Not entirely - deer will browse young foliage and shoots. Installing fencing or using repellents early on helps protect young trees until bark and growth harden with age.
Prune out older, unproductive limbs in late winter, focusing on removing no more than one-third of total growth at a time. Follow with a spring feeding of organic compost or fruit-tree fertilizer to stimulate strong regrowth and renewed fruiting.
Yes, it’s surprisingly adaptable. Santa Rosa handles pollution, compacted soil, and reflected heat well, making it suitable for city gardens, courtyards, or suburban landscapes where space and air circulation may be limited.
Yes - through hardwood cuttings in winter or grafting onto compatible rootstock. Grafting ensures the tree retains its desirable fruiting qualities and vigorous growth habit.
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Santa Rosa Plum This plant | ||
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Prunus salicina 'Santa Rosa' | Prunus salicina 'Methley' |
| Size at Maturity | 15' H x 15' W | 10' H x 10' W |
| Leaf Retention | Deciduous | Deciduous |
| Fall Color | Yellow | Yellow |
| Flower Color | White | White |
| Bloom Times | Spring | Spring |
| Sizes Available | 5 gal | 5 gal |
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