Spring 2025Order now for delivery from week commencing 31st March.
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King of the Damsons damson trees

Prunus insititia
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King of the Damsons is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Late
  • Self-fertility: Self-fertile

King of the Damsons, also known as Bradley's King, is a large-fruited traditional purple-blue damson which ripens in September.

The flavour is less astringent and slightly milder than other damsons.  The flesh is also fairly dry, which is useful in cooking because it avoids too much liquid getting into the mix.

Unusually amongst damsons, this is a freestone fruit - the stone falls away cleanly from the flesh.

King of the Damsons 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 St. Julien rootstock£60.50
    Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
    Out of stock
    Please try next season
  • PG2Premium half-standard 12L pot-grown tree St. Julien rootstock£64.50
    Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)

Bare-root

  • BR11-year bare-root treeSt. Julien rootstock£38.75
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
    Out of stock
    Please try next season
  • BR22-year bush-trained bare-root treeSt. Julien rootstock£47.50
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
    Out of stock
    Please try next season
  • BR32-year half-standard bare-root treeSt. Julien rootstock£51.00
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
    Out of stock
    Please try next season

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 31st March

Delivery charges

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

Growing and Training

King of the Damsons is suitable for most areas of the UK.

History

Bradley's King was introduced by a Mr Bradley of Nottingham in the 1880s. It is often known as the King of the Damsons on account of the large fruit size.


King of the Damsons characteristics

Growing

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Self-fertilitySelf-fertile
  • Flowering group2
  • 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 origin1900 - 1949
  • Blossom colourWhite
  • Fruit colourBlue - dark

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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