Santa Rosa Plum Tree

Santa Rosa Plum is one of the most celebrated plum varieties in American history — and for good reason. Introduced in 1906 by legendary horticulturalist Luther Burbank from his home in Santa Rosa, California, it remains a benchmark for plum flavor over a century later. Sweet, slightly tart, and strikingly beautiful, it’s a favorite of home gardeners, farmers' market growers, and anyone who’s ever tasted a perfectly ripe plum fresh from the tree.

A Flavor Worth Growing For

Santa Rosa produces large, deep purple-red plums with thin skin and firm, yellow flesh that’s sweet with just enough tartness to keep things interesting. The flavor is rich and complex in a way that grocery store plums rarely achieve — one of those fruits that’s genuinely transformed by being tree-ripened and eaten at peak. The fruit is excellent fresh, and equally good canned, made into jam, or dried into prunes.

A Luther Burbank Original — Still Unmatched After 120 Years

Luther Burbank was America’s most celebrated plant breeder, responsible for hundreds of new varieties across dozens of crops. Santa Rosa was among his finest achievements — a Japanese plum variety that combined ornamental beauty with exceptional fruit quality and early bearing. That it’s still one of the most sought-after plum varieties more than 120 years after its introduction is a testament to how well he got it right.

Rich in Antioxidants, Beautiful in the Garden

Santa Rosa’s deep red-purple color comes from a high concentration of anthocyanins — powerful antioxidants that make this plum as nutritious as it is beautiful. The tree itself is a stunning ornamental, covered in showy pinkish-white blossoms each spring before the fruit sets, with a broad canopy that provides real presence in the landscape.

Why Growers Choose Santa Rosa

• Legendary Luther Burbank variety — introduced in 1906, still considered a benchmark for plum flavor
• Large, sweet, slightly tart fruit — rich flavor that peaks at tree-ripeness
• Low chill hour requirement — only 300–500 hours, ideal for mild-winter climates
• High in anthocyanins — among the most antioxidant-rich plum varieties available
• Stunning spring display — showy pinkish-white blooms before the fruit sets
• Self-pollinating — produces fruit on its own, with better yields alongside a Japanese plum variety
• Early to bear — typically begins fruiting sooner than many other plum varieties