Prunus Salicina "Plum Songold" 10Liter

Plum ‘Songold’

Botanical Name

Prunus salicina ‘Songold’

Common Names

• Songold Plum
• Japanese Plum ‘Songold’

Product Description

The ‘Songold’ Plum is a highly sought-after Japanese plum variety known for its exceptionally sweet, golden-yellow fruit and firm, juicy flesh. It produces medium to large plums with a smooth yellow skin that may develop a light blush when fully ripe.

Renowned for its excellent flavour and high sugar content, ‘Songold’ is ideal for fresh eating and performs exceptionally well in South African conditions. It is a vigorous and productive tree, offering consistent yields when properly pollinated.

This variety is not self-fertile and requires a compatible pollinator to achieve optimal fruit set, making it a valuable addition to a mixed plum orchard.

Size When Fully Grown

• Height: 3–5 m
• Spread: 3–4 m
• Can be pruned to maintain a smaller size

Best Growing Conditions (South Africa)

• Full sun (essential for fruit sweetness and yield)
• Well-drained, fertile soil
• Moderate, consistent watering (especially during fruiting)
• Requires winter chilling (suited to Highveld and cooler regions)
• Protect blossoms from late frost and strong winds

Planting & Growing Season (South Africa)

• Best planting time: Winter (June–August) for bare-root trees
• Flowering: Late winter to early spring (August–September)
• Harvest: Early to mid-summer (November–December, region dependent)

Pollination

• Not self-fertile (requires a pollinator)
• Recommended pollinators:
  • ‘Santa Rosa’
  • ‘Methley’
  • ‘Mariposa’

Additional Benefits

• Exceptionally sweet, dessert-quality fruit
• Firm flesh with good shelf life
• High-yielding under proper pollination
• Attractive tree with seasonal blossoms
• Excellent for fresh consumption and light processing

Ideal Uses

• Home orchards and edible gardens
• Fresh fruit production
• Small-scale farming
• Fruit salads and desserts
• Complementary planting with other plum varieties