Merryweather damson trees
Prunus insititia - Picking season: Mid
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
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
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)
Out of stock
Please try next season
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)
Out of stock
Please try next season
BR21-year bare-root treeSt. Julien rootstock£38.75
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)
Out of stock
Please try next season
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
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 >
VictoriaVictoria is the definitive English plum, attractive fruit, good for eating, outstanding flavour for cooking.
FarleighOne of the hardiest damsons, and crops heavily. Farleigh has the distinctive damson flavour.
Shropshire PruneThe definitive English damson, Shropshire Prune has the rich astringent flavour typical of damsons.
Mirabelle de NancyMirabelle de Nancy is the definitive traditional French Mirabelle, originating from north-east France.
CzarCzar is a traditional culinary plum, one of the easiest plums trees, will even fruit on north-facing walls.
Merryweather characteristics
- Gardening skillBeginner
- Self-fertilitySelf-fertile
- Flowering group3
- Pollinating othersAverage
- Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesMild damp climates
- Picking seasonMid
- CroppingHeavy
- Keeping (of fruit)1 week
- Food usesCulinary
- Country of originUnited Kingdom
- Period of origin1900 - 1949
- Blossom colourWhite
- Fruit colourBlue - dark
British-grown trees 
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.
