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Farleigh damson trees

Prunus insititia
Farleigh damsons
Farleigh has received the RHS Award of Garden MeritFarleigh is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Late
  • Self-fertility: Self-fertile
  • Awards: RHS AGM (current) 2000

Farleigh is probably the heaviest-cropping of all the damsons.

The abundant fruit has the characteristic rich damson flavour when cooked.

Farleigh damson trees for sale

Pot-grown

All our pot-grown trees are grown for us to our specification by the Frank P Matthews nursery.

All pot-grown trees are suitable for planting out in the garden, some are suitable for growing in containers.

  • PG12-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree VVA-1 rootstock£62.00
    Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  • PG22-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree St. Julien rootstock£60.50
    Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • PG3Premium half-standard 12L pot-grown tree St. Julien rootstock£63.50
    Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)

Bare-root

  • BR12-year bush-trained bare-root treeVVA-1 rootstock£49.75
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  • BR21-year bare-root treeSt. Julien rootstock£38.75< 5 in stock
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR32-year bush-trained bare-root treeSt. Julien rootstock£47.50
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
    Out of stock
    Please try next season
  • BR42-year half-standard bare-root treeSt. Julien rootstock£51.00
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR51-year bare-root treeBrompton rootstock£41.00
    Very large tree (4m-7m after 10 years)

Need help? Ask our fruit tree experts

Call us on 01759 392007 or fill in our contact form.

Tree specification

Photos of trees as supplied | Tree sizes and forms

Next deliveries

Order now for delivery from week commencing 24th February.

Delivery charges

Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.

Growing and Training

Farleigh is one of the hardiest of damsons, making it a good choice for difficult situations where other fruit trees may not flourish.

Although self-fertile, it can be readily pollinated by other mid-season flowering damsons and plums - its flowering time almost exactly matches that of Victoria plum trees.

Recommended pollinators for Farleigh damson trees

Farleigh 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 Merryweather
    Merryweather
    Merryweather is a very popular damson, with unusually large fruit, one of the hardiest of fruit trees.
  • Pollinator Shropshire Prune
    Shropshire Prune
    The definitive English damson, Shropshire Prune has the rich astringent flavour typical of damsons.
  • Pollinator Mirabelle de Nancy
    Mirabelle de Nancy
    Mirabelle de Nancy is the definitive traditional French Mirabelle, originating from north-east France.
  • Pollinator Czar
    Czar
    Czar is a traditional culinary plum, one of the easiest plums trees, will even fruit on north-facing walls.

History

Discovered in Kent in the early 19th century.


Farleigh characteristics

Growing

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Self-fertilitySelf-fertile
  • Flowering group3
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesMild damp climates

Using

  • Picking seasonLate
  • CroppingHeavy
  • Keeping (of fruit)1 week
  • Food usesCulinary

Problems

  • Disease resistanceGood

Identification

  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1800 - 1849
  • Blossom colourWhite
  • Fruit colourBlue - dark
  • AwardsRHS AGM (current)

British-grown trees Trees grown in the UK.

Unlike many garden centres and online retailers, the vast majority of our fruit trees are grown in the UK. Find out more.

In addition, all our trees are certified under the Plant Healthy scheme, supervised by the Plant Health Alliance. Other stakeholders include Defra and the RHS. The scheme aims to improve UK biosecurity by setting standards for all growers and retailers involved in selling plants in the UK. Find out more

Guaranteed fruit trees

When you buy your fruit tree from Orange Pippin Fruit Trees we guarantee it for the first season in your garden whilst it gets established. If it doesn't grow successfully, we'll either replace it the following season or offer a refund - subject to some conditions. Find out more.

More about damson trees

Damsons are primarily grown for use in the kitchen - if you can find the space it is definitely worth having at least one damson tree in your fruit tree collection.

Damsons have a distinctive rich flavour, similar but quite different to plums. They are superb for making jams, jellies, crumbles, and pies.

Damsons trees belong to the species Prunus insititia, which also includes Bullaces, St. Juliens, and Mirabelles. Damsons originate from Damascus in Syria and the name comes from the term "Damascene plum". This might suggest they need a Mediterranean climate, but in fact damson trees grow very easily in cold climates or situations where other plum tree species might not flourish. In the UK the centre of commercial damson production is the Lyth valley in Cumbria, north-west England, notable for its wet climate. However, although they can succeed in areas where sunlight is not plentiful, damson trees do not grow well if they are shaded.

Damson trees are therefore a reliable source of fresh fruit in climates where other fruit trees may not succeed. They are also amongst the easiest of fruit trees to grow, needing no pruning once they are established - indeed pruning is not only unnecessary but undesirable with damsons.

For more information about damsons, see Daiv Sizer's guide to damsons (PDF). Pruning guide for damsons - Pots 2 Plots.


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