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Early Favourite



A small early purple dual purpose plum with good flavour and cropping

Origin: Hertfordshire UK, 1820

Pollination: Early Favourite is partially self-fertile and would produce some crop without a pollinator but would benefit considerably from a pollinator.  Pollination partners

British-grown British-grown fruit trees All our bare-root trees are personally hand-grafted by our Nursery Manager and grown on at our nursery in Kent. We have Defra and Plant Healthy certification. Find out more ...

Early Favourite plum and gage trees produced to order

Closing date for custom graft orders: 14 Jul 2025

We do not stock this variety, but we can produce custom-graft trees for you. Trees can be grafted on any of the following rootstocks:

FormRootstockPriceQuantity
MaidenVVA-1Dwarfing £39.00
MaidenAdaptabilSemi-vigorous £39.00
MaidenBromptonVery vigorous £39.00

Custom graft trees would be supplied in December 2026. More details of our custom grafting service here.

History and description of Early Favourite

Raised from an open pollinated Precoce de Tours by Thomas Rivers, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, UK in 1820 and introduced c 1834.

Small, round-oval fruit. Blue-black skin with bloom. Tender, juicy, green flesh. Sweet with good flavour. Can be used as both a dessert and culinary plum.

Vigorous tree which crops well.

Characteristics of Early Favourite plum and gage trees

UseDual Cul & Des
ColourBlue
FlavourSweet
Fruit sizeSmall
Picking time
Season of useL July
Tree vigourVigorous
Tree habit
Fruit-bearing
CroppingGood
Pollination date21
Pollination groupC
Self-fertilityPartially self-fertile
Incompatibility group0
PollinatorsPollination partners
ProgenyOpal
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