Mirabelle de Nancy mirabelle trees
Prunus insititia This is a traditional old French variety, originating from the department of Lorraine - the countryside around the cities of Metz and Nancy is one of the main areas for mirabelle production.. It is the one to choose if you want to make the classic 'Tarte aux Mirabelles'.
The fruits are an attractive speckled yellow colour, and ripen in late August or early September in southern England.
Mirabelles have a sweet flavour but are primarily used in the kitchen, although they can be eaten fresh too. The stone separates cleanly from the flesh, which makes it easier when preparing the fruit for cooking.
Mirabelle de Nancy mirabelle 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)
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
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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 10th March
Delivery charges
Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.
Growing and Training
Mirabelle de Nancy is partially self-fertile. It will bear a reasonable crop on its own, but cropping is improved if a different mirabelle variety is planted nearby.
Mirabelle de Nancy flowers prolifically over a long period, making it a good pollination partner for many other European plum and damson varieties.
The tree is hardy and will grow happily in most parts of the UK, but for reliable cropping it is best planted in a sheltered south-facing spot with maximum sunlight.
History
This mirabelle was known in France in the 18th centry and probably originated much earlier. There is no specific "cultivar" of Mirabelle de Nancy, and it is perhaps better considered as a population of closely-related and interbred varieties with common characteristics, originating from the area around Nancy in north-east France.
Mirabelle de Nancy characteristics
- Gardening skillAverage
- Self-fertilityPartially self-fertile
- Flowering group3
- Pollinating othersAverage
- Climate suitabilityTemperate climates
- Picking seasonLate
- CroppingLight
- Keeping (of fruit)1 week
- Food usesCulinary
- Country of originFrance
- Period of origin1550 - 1599
- Blossom colourWhite
- Fruit colourYellow / Orange
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.
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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.
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More about mirabelle trees
Mirabelles are a type of small sweet plum, a common sight in French markets in August. They can be eaten fresh, but are primarily used for making jams and similar preserves, as well as fruit tarts ('tarte aux mirabelles') and plum liqueurs. Mirabelles are the size of large cherries, and typically either bright red or golden yellow.
Mirabelles are usually classified as Prunus insititia, along with Damsons and Bullaces (although they are sweeter than these fruits), but are sometimes also classified as a variety of the common European Plum (Prunus domestica v. syriaca).
Cherry Plums are very similar to Mirabelles, but the fruits are a bit larger and they tend to ripen earlier in the summer.
Cherry Plums are usually categorised in a related species - Prunus cerasifera.
Regardless of the classification, Mirabelles and Cherry Plums make an interesting addition to the garden or orchard. They are hardy trees and grow well throughout Europe. Like the other minor plum species, they tend to have good disease resistance.
Mirabelles are partially self-fertile but will set a better crop if another mirabelle is planted nearby. Reflecting their close relationship, Mirabelles will also cross-pollinate with most European plums and damsons if they flower at the same time - they usually overlap with most early and mid-season blooming plums.
Cherry Plums are generally fully self-fertile, and flower very early in the spring. They will also cross-pollinate other plum varieties - usually only the earliest blooming - that are in flower at the same time.
