Description

About The Santa Rosa Plum Tree

A favorite of home gardeners and farmers’ markets, the Santa Rosa plum, was introduced in 1906 by famed horticulturalist, Luther Burbank, out of his home in Santa Rosa, California.

It is known for its sweet, slightly tart taste, and deep purple red color. This variety typically takes less years to begin bearing fruit than other plums. Commercial fruit production of the Santa Rosa plum is rare.

This Japanese plum variety makes a stunning ornamental tree with its showy, pinkish white blossoms in the spring.

Using the Fruit

A single tree can produce an abundance of fruit. Home gardeners and homesteaders will enjoy eating the plums fresh or cooking with them. For preservation, plums can be canned, made into jam, or dehydrated into prunes.

The skin of the plum is thin, and its yellow flesh clings tightly to the pit. Plums are good sources of fiber and high in vitamins A, C, and K. Due to its dark red coloring, the Santa Rosa plum is high in the antioxidants known as anthocyanins.

Growing Santa Rosa Plum Trees

These fruit trees need full sun and, in the winter, require 500 chill hours, so be sure to check the USDA hardiness zones to see if it is a good choice for your area.

It is self-pollinating, but cross pollinating with other Japanese varieties will result in greater yield.

Buy a Santa Rosa plum tree and enjoy this beautiful plant and its delicious fruit!

Survival Guaranteed!

Since 1816, Stark Bro’s has promised to provide customers with the very best fruit trees and plants. It’s just that simple. If your trees or plants do not survive, please let us know within one year of delivery. We will send you a free one-time replacement, with a nominal shipping fee of $9.99. If the item in question is not available, we can issue a one-time credit to your account equaling the original product purchase price or issue you a refund. Read more about our warranty policy.

Characteristics

Bloom Color Pink, White
Bloom Time Mid - Late
Chill Hours 300 - 500
Fruit Color Red
Fruit Size Large
Hardiness Zone Range 5 - 9
Pollination Self-Pollinating
Ripens/Harvest July
Shade/Sun Full Sun
Soil Composition Loamy
Soil Moisture Well Drained
Soil pH Level 6.0 - 7.0
Taste Sweet
Texture Firm
Years to Bear 3 - 6

Size & Spacing

Mature Size

The mature size of this variety depends on the version you choose to plant:
Standard 18 - 20' tall x 18 - 20' wide
Dwarf 8 - 10' tall x 8 - 10' wide

Recommended Spacing

The space needed for this variety to grow depends on the size you plant:
Standard 18 - 20'
Dwarf 8 - 10'

Zone Compatibility

This Variety's Zone Range 5 - 9
My Hardiness Zone ?
The USDA hardiness zones offer a guide to varieties that will grow well in certain climates. Each zone corresponds to the minimum winter temperatures experienced in a given area. Make sure that your hardiness zone lies within the zone compatibility range of this variety before ordering.

Pollination

This variety is self pollinating.

In many cases, you may still want to plant pollinating partners to increase the size of your crops, but with self-pollinating varieties doing so is optional. Plant one of these varieties within 100' for best results.

Tools & Supplies

Having the proper tools and supplies when growing your own can make the difference between a good harvest and a great harvest! Here's a list that our experts recommend for this variety.

Planting & Care

Learn all about how to grow plum trees in The Growing Guide. An entire section of our website dedicated to your growing success.

Shipping Information

Arrives when it's time to plant

Your success is our priority. We work hard to make sure that your order arrives at the ideal time for planting in your location based on your local climate conditions.

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Questions & Answers

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128 Questions
Why did you choose this?

Love the fruit,hoping for success

Very suitable to my Dallas Fort Worth area - Highly recommend by Texas A&M

Like the taste

Also I had a Santa Rosa plum from stark bros. Just a beautiful tree with the best tasting plums ever. I’m looking forward to having another one

Customer Reviews

287 Ratings
3.7out of 5 stars
287 Ratings

Rated 5 stars by 49% of reviewers

Rated 4 stars by 17% of reviewers

Rated 3 stars by 9% of reviewers

Rated 2 stars by 8% of reviewers

Rated 1 star by 16% of reviewers

1-10 of 287 Reviews
Rated 5 out of 5
Sep 3, 2025
All 8 trees
All of the trees arrived alive and they are all thriving! 5B. I'm wondering about spraying for over winter bugs. Right now I see a couple leaves ate, but no sign of bugs. I am nottryi g organic. We've done that, and birh trees had to be cut down, due to bug infection. Not going to do that anymore.
Rated 5 out of 5
Aug 21, 2025
Great buy.
It arrived in great condition. It is growing and looking great. I am really happy how well it is doing
Rated 5 out of 5
Aug 13, 2025
Healthy little tree
My little santa rosa plum tree came as promised and was properly planted. Since planted, (spring,) it has sprouted some very nice 20 inch branches, it arrived as a whip, two very small leaves trying to come out. Within weeks it started to floursih. very healthy!
Rated 5 out of 5
Aug 13, 2025
My two plumb trees in South Texas
My two plum trees arrived when promised. The trees roots were partially wrapped with damp shredded paper strips. I had to soak the root ball for a day to rehydrate both trees. Both trees were potted in large containers & are doing very well here in South Texas. I'll probably plant them in an another year after the last frost.
Rated 5 out of 5
Aug 12, 2025
My plum tree.
This plum tree is doig great. It grew about 8 inches so far. I can't wait to get some plum off of it next summer. Thank you for a tree that is thriving very well!
Rated 5 out of 5
Aug 8, 2025
Fantastic. I planted it three month ago and it has doubled in size. AS a matter of fact, all the trees are doing great.

The peach tree I planted last year proved me with 11 peaches so far and it has tripled in size..
Rated 5 out of 5
Aug 6, 2025
Santa Rose Plum.
My plum tree arrived in very good condition.
The bare roots were in good shape-- well hydrated .Its been very hot and dry here. With that being said I planted my tree in the spring using black cow compost and peat moss mixed in. The tree is growing very fast and robust. This is a very good tree .
Rated 5 out of 5
Jul 29, 2025
Very nice and healthy plants bare roots due well for this year hot weather water weekly look great
Rated 5 out of 5
Jul 26, 2025
Off to a great start!
Stark Bro's shipped the tree at the correct time (April 15 for my area), ground was thawed and ready for planting. The bare root tree was in great shape (not dehydrated from sitting in a warehouse for an extended amount of time), and it leafed out evenly and beautifully. I know where I'm going to get my trees in the future!
Rated 5 out of 5
Jul 8, 2025
The little tree is doing fine even though I planted it later in the spring. It should do well
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