Prunus insititia 'Merryweather Damson' (C)
damson 'Merryweather Damson'
'Merryweather Damson' is a vigorous, spreading tree with relatively large, blue-black fruits that can be used fresh when fully ripe in late summer, though are normally used for cooking. It is self-fertile and in pollination group 3
Other common names
damson 'Merryweather'Synonyms
Prunus domestica var. institia 'Merry Weather'Prunus insititia 'Merryweather'
see morePrunus domestica 'Merryweather'
Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
2.5–4 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | White | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | Black Blue | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Bushy
- Genus
Prunus can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs with showy flowers in spring, and often good autumn foliage colour. Some have edible fruit in autumn, and a few species have ornamental bark
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in a moist, but well-drained soil in full sun. Keep a weed-free area of at least 60cm radius around trunk. Thin fruit if necessary. Irrigate in dry periods
Propagation
Propagate by chip budding or grafting on rootstock for fruit
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Wildlife gardens
- Wall side borders
- Edible fruit
Pruning
Regular pruning required for pruning established fans, but pruning plums grown as bushes is not so intensive
Pests
Can suffer from damage by plum aphid, caterpillars, fruit tree red spider mite, brown scale and plum moth maggots
Diseases
May be affected by bacterial canker and brown rot; this cultivar show resistance to silver leaf
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.