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Simple bare root fruit trees and ornamental trees

Czar

Prunus domestica
Czar plums
Czar has received the RHS Award of Garden MeritCzar is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators

Czar is a large dark black/purple plum, with good astringency and ideal for culinary purposes. It can also be eaten fresh if you leave it to get fully ripe. Rated by Hogg (writing in the 1880s) as an "excellent plum".

The blossom is unusually large for a plum.

Czar plum 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

Czar is an excellent choice for less than ideal conditions, including areas of heavy rainfall or low light levels. It is reliable, heavy-cropping, self-fertile, and can be grown shade or north-facing situations if necessary. The tree is compact and attractive. Czar has average disease resistance but good frost resistance.

If you want another plum tree to pollinate your Czar then Victoria is a good choice as it is typically in peak flower just a couple of days later than Czar.


Recommended pollinators for Czar plum trees

Czar 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 Farleigh
    Farleigh
    One of the hardiest damsons, and crops heavily. Farleigh has the distinctive damson flavour.
  • Pollinator Jubilee
    Jubilee
    Jubilee is a new heavy-cropping dessert plum variety, similar to Victoria but larger and more reliable.
  • Pollinator Marjorie's Seedling
    Marjorie's Seedling
    Marjorie's Seedling is an easy to grow, late-season, heavy cropping purple/black plum.
  • Pollinator Opal
    Opal
    Opal is an early plum variety with a good flavour, self-fertile and very easy to grow.
  • Pollinator Victoria
    Victoria
    Victoria is the definitive English plum, attractive fruit, good for eating, outstanding flavour for cooking.

History

Czar was raised in Hertfordshire in the 1870s, UK, and is a cross between Prince Englebert and Early Rivers, and named in honour of the Emperor of Russia who was visiting England at the time. Czar has been quite widely grown in the UK as a commercial plum variety.


Czar characteristics

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Fruit persistenceNormal ripening
  • Self-fertile?Self-fertile
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Pick seasonMid - Early August
  • Picking periodlate July
  • Keeping1 week
  • Food usesCulinaryDual purpose
  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1850 - 1899
  • Fruit colourBlue - dark

You might also like these varieties

  • See also Herman
    Herman
    Herman is one of the best quality early-season plum varieties, blue/purple with yellow flesh.
  • See also Marjorie's Seedling
    Marjorie's Seedling
    Marjorie's Seedling is an easy to grow, late-season, heavy cropping purple/black plum.
  • See also Opal
    Opal
    Opal is an early plum variety with a good flavour, self-fertile and very easy to grow.
  • See also Victoria
    Victoria
    Victoria is the definitive English plum, attractive fruit, good for eating, outstanding flavour for cooking.

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