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Reeves plum trees

Prunus domestica
Reeves plums
Reeves is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Mid
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 3
  • Awards: RHS AGM (former) 1995

Reeves is a large-fruited dual-purpose red plum, filling a similar niche to Victoria. However whilst Victoria is hard to beat for use in the kitchen, Reeves has a far better flavour for eating fresh. Indeed it is one of the best-flavoured of all plums and can even hold its own in tasting tests with most gages.

It is grown commercially on a small scale in England, Scandanavia, and eastern Europe, and is generally well-regarded by growers and apparently not affected by plum pox virus. The plums keep fresh much longer after picking than most other varieties.

Reeves plum trees for sale

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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Tree specification

Photos of trees as supplied | Tree sizes and forms

Delivery charges

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

Growing and Training

Reeves is not as heavy-cropping as some plums. This is actually a good thing, as with plums lighter crops are often associated with better flavour.

Recommended pollinators for Reeves plum trees

Reeves is not self-fertile, so you will need another different but compatible variety planted nearby in order to produce fruit. The following varieties are good pollinators for Reeves. 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 Opal
    Opal
    Opal is an early plum variety with a good flavour, self-fertile and very easy to grow.
  • Pollinator Cambridge Gage
    Cambridge Gage
    Cambridge Gage is a reliable green gage, similar to Old Green Gage, with an excellent 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 Farleigh
    Farleigh
    One of the hardiest damsons, and crops heavily. Farleigh has the distinctive damson flavour.
  • Pollinator Czar
    Czar
    Czar is a traditional culinary plum, one of the easiest plums trees, will even fruit on north-facing walls.

History

Reeves was found by Mr A. Reeves of Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada, in the 1940s. Chilliwack is near Vancouver - some distance from the main plum-growing regions of British Columbia. Its ancestry is unknown but it is possibly a seedling of Reine Claude Berger (sometimes known as Peach plum in English).


Reeves characteristics

Growing

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
  • Flowering group3
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesMild damp climatesWarm climates

Using

  • Picking seasonMid
  • CroppingLight
  • Keeping (of fruit)1 week
  • Food usesEating freshCulinaryDual purpose

Problems

  • Disease resistanceGood

Identification

  • Country of originCanada
  • Period of origin1900 - 1949
  • Blossom colourWhite
  • Fruit colourRed - dark
  • Flesh colourGolden / Yellow
  • AwardsRHS AGM (former)

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 plum trees

Victoria is without doubt the supreme English cooking plum, easily identified by its characteristic orange flesh, and the hint of almond flavour it lends to plum jams and patisseries.


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