Ozark Premier Plum Tree

Ozark Premier is the plum that the Ohio Valley, the Northeast, and the Midwest have been growing and relying on since 1946 — introduced by the Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station as a Burbank × Methley cross that combines the generous size and flavor quality of both parents into extra-large, firm, sweet, juicy red plums that perform reliably across a wide range of conditions. Semi-freestone, heat-tolerant, bears young, and outstanding for fresh eating, canning, cooking, and preserving in early to mid-August. A proven regional workhorse with over 75 years of documented home orchard performance across Zones 5–9. A pollinator is required.

Extra-Large, Firm, and Juicy — The Giant Plum for the Midwest

“Giant” is the right word for Ozark Premier. At extra-large size — one of the largest-fruited plums available for home growing — each fruit delivers a genuinely substantial bite with firm, sweet, juicy flesh and the balanced flavor that comes from its Burbank × Methley parentage. Luther Burbank’s influence on the flavor complexity and Methley’s contribution to early ripening and productivity combine in a variety that performs as well in July through August as it looks at harvest.

Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station, 1946 — Regional Heritage

The Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station in Mountain Grove, Missouri was one of the most productive fruit breeding programs in American history — responsible for numerous plum, peach, and apple varieties specifically adapted to Midwest, Ohio Valley, and Northeastern growing conditions. Ozark Premier was introduced in 1946 as a deliberate regional solution — a large-fruited, productive, heat-tolerant plum for the climates where it still performs best over 75 years later.

Bears Young — Semi-Freestone, Heat-Tolerant, Versatile

Ozark Premier bears younger than most standard plum trees — beginning to produce before the typical 4–6 year waiting period of other standard varieties. The semi-freestone pit separates fairly cleanly from the firm flesh, making it practical for canning and cooking where clean pit removal is helpful. Outstanding for jams and preserves where the extra-large fruit produces generous yields per batch.

Why Growers Choose Ozark Premier Plum

• Extra-large firm sweet plums — among the largest-fruited plums for home growing
• Burbank × Methley cross — Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station, 1946
• 75+ years of proven Midwest and Northeast performance — the trusted regional plum
• Bears young — productive sooner than most standard plum trees
• Heat tolerant, semi-freestone — versatile and practical across every use
• Outstanding for fresh eating, canning, cooking, and preserving — a true all-purpose plum