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Early Orleans



An excellent red culinary plum and a reasonable dessert plum

Origin: France, 1600

Pollination: Early Orleans 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 Orleans 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
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 Orleans

Exact origins not known. Probably of French origin but known in the UK since the 17th Century.

Medium sized, round-oval fruit. Dark red skin with a thick purple bloom and small russet dots on the surface. Firm yellow juicy flesh. Sweet with pleasant flavour. Stone free. Excellent cooking plum and reasonable as a dessert plum.

Small tree with irregular cropping heavy in some years and light in others.

Characteristics of Early Orleans plum and gage trees

UseDual Cul & Des
ColourRed
FlavourSweet
Fruit sizeMedium
Picking time
Season of useAug
Tree vigourSmall
Tree habitUpright-spreading
Fruit-bearing
CroppingErratic
Pollination date21
Pollination groupC
Self-fertilityPartially self-fertile
PollinatorsPollination partners
ProgenyLangley Bullace
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