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Simple bare root fruit trees and ornamental trees

Merryweather

Prunus insititia
Mirabelle de Nancy mirabelle fruits
Merryweather is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators

Merryweather is a traditional English damson, its origins are unknown but it is one of the most widely-planted and hardy of damsons. The fruit is large by damson standards and Merryweather is in some ways more like a small plum.

The fruit can be eaten fresh if left to hang on the tree, but damsons really come into their own for culinary use, where they can subsitute for plums yet have a distinctive rich flavour.

Merryweather is a clingstone fruit - the stone is not easily parted from the flesh.

Merryweather damson trees for sale

  • RF12-year bare-root tree on VVA-1 rootstock£49.75
    Mature height: 2m-3.5m after 10 years
    Will become a medium-sized bush-trained semi-dwarf fruit tree, will require permanent staking, but won't need much space
    Available next season
  • RF21-year bare-root tree on St. Julien rootstock£38.75
    Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
    Can be trained on as a large bush-trained tree or a half-standard tree, no staking required once estalished. Also suitable as a large fan-trained tree.
    Available next season
  • RF32-year bare-root tree on St. Julien rootstock£47.50
    Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
    Will become a large vase-shaped fruit tree, no staking required once established.
    Available next season
  • RF42-year half-standard bare-root tree on St. Julien rootstock£51.00
    Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
    Can be trained on as a large free-standing half-standard tree.
    Available next season
  • RF51-year bare-root tree on Brompton rootstock£41.25
    Mature height: 5m-7m after 10 years
    Can be trained on as a 'standard' fruit tree, no staking required, suitable for a traditional plum orchard.
    Available next season

Growing and Training

Merryweather produces a large vigorous tree, which tends to be spreading rather than vertical in its growth like most damsons. The canopy is also less "twiggy" and more plum-like than other damsons, making it less suitable for use in fruiting hedges.

Merryweather is more precocious than other damsons, and you may get a crop from trees which are 2-4 years old.

Like most damsons, Merryweather tolerates wet and cold situations and is resistant to silverleaf.


Recommended pollinators for Merryweather damson trees

Merryweather is self-fertile, so you do not need another variety to pollinate it to produce fruit. However you are likely to get a better crop if you plant any of the following pollinator varieties nearby. If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us. More pollinators >

  • Pollinator Victoria
    Victoria
    Victoria is the definitive English plum, attractive fruit, good for eating, outstanding flavour for cooking.
  • Pollinator Farleigh
    Farleigh
    One of the hardiest damsons, and crops heavily. Farleigh has the distinctive damson flavour.
  • Pollinator Shropshire Prune
    Shropshire Prune
    The definitive English damson, Shropshire Prune has the rich astringent flavour typical of damsons.
  • Pollinator Czar
    Czar
    Czar is a traditional culinary plum, one of the easiest plums trees, will even fruit on north-facing walls.

Merryweather characteristics

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Fruit persistenceNormal ripening
  • Self-fertile?Self-fertile
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Pick seasonMid
  • Picking periodmid-September
  • Keeping1 week
  • Food usesCulinary
  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1900 - 1949
  • Fruit colourBlue - dark

You might also like these varieties

  • See also Farleigh
    Farleigh
    One of the hardiest damsons, and crops heavily. Farleigh has the distinctive damson flavour.
  • See also Shepherds Bullace
    Shepherds Bullace
    A large-fruited bullace, used for cooking and preserves, similar to a damson.
  • See also Shropshire Prune
    Shropshire Prune
    The definitive English damson, Shropshire Prune has the rich astringent flavour typical of damsons.

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