Shiro Hybrid Plum

scionwood
Prunus spp.
This is a twig for grafting. Midsummer.

Uncertain parentage (thought to be P. simonii × P. sal.). Luther Burbank intro, California, 1899.

Although Shiro’s parentage is unclear—it may be a pure Japanese type—it’s hardy in much of Maine, especially along the coast and Portland south. The 1½" round-conic thin-skinned fruit is light yellow, deepening as the season progresses and sometimes colored with a pinkish blush. The sweet chin-dribbling light-yellow translucent flesh is so juicy it might soak your shirt. Or skip the mess and jam or can them.

Broadly spreading picturesque tree will eventually span 30' or more but tops off at only 10 or 12'. Z5. (3–6' bare-root trees)
ships in early spring

7975 Shiro

A: 1 1 ft scionwood stick
$6.00
Early shipment only, order deadline passed
B: 1 ft bulk scionwood (10' minimum)
$5.50
Early shipment only, order deadline passed

Related Items

Rootstock
Grafting Supplies
Hole-Istic Spring Planting Mix
Quick Details
Harvest Season
midsummer
Compare

Compare with other Hybrid Plums

Variety Product Type Harvest Season
Black Ice bare-root trees midsummer
Cocheco bare-root trees midsummer
Gracious bare-root trees late summer
Hanska bare-root trees summer
Kahinta bare-root trees mid-late summer
La Crescent bare-root trees late summer
Lavina bare-root trees mid-late summer
Obilinya bare-root trees midsummer
Pipestone bare-root trees late summer
Purple Heart bare-root trees late summer
Shiro bare-root trees midsummer
Toka bare-root trees late summer
Underwood bare-root trees midsummer
Waneta bare-root trees midsummer
Elephant Heart scionwood late summer
Hanska scionwood summer
La Crescent scionwood late summer
Shiro scionwood midsummer
Shipping

Scionwood and early rootstock orders ship in early March.

Additional Information

Hybrid Plums Prunus spp.

Extremely hardy crosses between various Asian and American species; may fruit even after severe winters.

Hybrid plum fruiting can be inconsistent but it’s worth the trouble! Warmer areas will see longer bloom times. Cold late springs may force blooming all at once. Both of these conditions can be optimal for plum crops. At other times, it can be a little hit or miss. Bloom times are similar for all the varieties we offer.

Hybrid plums are less susceptible to black knot than European plums and have few issues other than Japanese beetle and plum curculio attraction.

At maturity, hybrid plums are roughly 15–20' tall.

Growing Hybrid Plums

  • Soil: Prefers well-drained fertile soil.
  • Sun: Full.
  • Pollination: Requires a second variety. We recommend planting at least 4 different varieties close together. Including an American Plum Seedling in your grove can help ensure pollination.
  • Planting: See our planning and planting and pests and diseases pages for more information about soil prep, planting, and pest control.
  • Spacing: 15–20' apart, or closer for a thicket.

Scionwood

Scions are twigs, not trees. They have no roots and will not grow if you plant them. They are cuttings from dormant branch tips, intended for spring grafting.

We do our best to provide ¼" caliper stock. Because of factors beyond our control (such as weather!) stock may be 3⁄16–3⁄8".

We sell scionwood in two ways:

  • By the stick: One 8" stick will graft 3-4 trees.
  • By the foot: Minimum order of 10 feet per variety. For orchardists grafting large numbers of trees of a particular variety. In our own nursery work, we are usually able to graft 6-8 trees from one foot of scionwood.

You can graft right away or store scionwood for later use. It will keep quite well for several weeks stored in sealed ziplock bags in the refrigerator.

The deadline for ordering scionwood is February 21, 2025, for shipment around March 10. (Please note: we ship scionwood only in mid-March. If you would like to order rootstock to arrive in the same shipment, select mid-March shipping when adding the rootstock to your cart.)

For more info:
About Scionwood