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This item is a Stark Pick!
Starking® Delicious™ Plum
Starking® Delicious™ Plum
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Starking® Delicious™ Plum

35 ReviewsAsk Questions
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Item #137609, Standard, EZ Start®. Ships 1' 6" - 3' tall with advanced root system in a 4x4x10" EZ Start® Pot. Professionally pruned for FREE!
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Description

A Stark Bro's Exclusive!Easy to Grow! A Stark Pick

Perfect for first-time growers. We never use the term “delicious” lightly, and this variety is no exception. Consistently bears heavy crops of round, sweet dessert plums with red skin and red flesh. Disease-resistant to bacterial leaf spot and canker. Heat-tolerant. Clingstone. Discovered in 1931 and introduced by Stark Bro’s in 1951. Ripens in early August. Best pollinators: Redheart, Shiro, Ozark Premier or Methley. Johnson cultivar

Characteristics

Bloom Color White
Fruit Color Red
Fruit Size Large
Ripens/Harvest Early August
Shade/Sun Full Sun
Soil Composition Loamy
Soil Moisture Well Drained
Soil pH Level 6.0 - 7.0
Taste Juicy, Sweet
Texture Firm
Years to Bear 3 - 6
Zone Range 5 - 9

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 compatability range of this variety before ordering.

Size & Spacing

Mature Size

When your tree matures, it will be approximately 18 - 20' tall x 18 - 20' wide.

Recommended Spacing

We recommend spacing these trees 18 - 20' apart to ensure room for growth.

Pollination

This variety requires another one for adequate pollination.

Cross-pollination by a different variety is key to its growing and bearing success. Plant one of these varieties within 50' for best pollination.

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.

Read about how to grow plum trees »

Shipping Information

Estimated Delivery Date

Get an estimated delivery date »

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.

Our Promise of Satisfaction

1 Year Warranty

Every order comes with our promise of satisfaction. If you aren't completely satisfied with your order, let us know within one year for a free one-time replacement or refund.

Tags

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Questions & Answers

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Browse 9 questions Browse 9 questions and 28 answers
Why did you choose this?
Stark Bro's Store
Its advertised sweetness and grows in my zone.
Esther R on Jul 1, 2020
I have another plum plant that needs a cross pollinator
Maureen G on Jun 20, 2020
Its advertised sweetness and grows in my zone.
Esther R on Jul 1, 2020
I chose this Plum Tree because it was suggested as a great pollinator for the Elephant Heart Plum Tree.
Troylene B on Jun 20, 2020
I have another plum plant that needs a cross pollinator
Maureen G on Jun 20, 2020
Review says disease resistant
Tabitha M on Jun 18, 2019
Ease to grow
Jonathan H on Jun 13, 2019
To add a different variety to my personal plum orchard . I live in a very rural area ; and it???s hard to get fresh fruit locally ; I love my fresh fruit !! Now if I could just keep the ???Wild-life??? from eating them !! LOL!!
Pamela G on May 12, 2019
To pollinate an Alderman plum
Ellen D on May 5, 2019
This was a personal request from my Father. He buys many tress from this website and was ready to try this one!
Corby S on Mar 16, 2019
Wanted to buy plum trees to add to orchard and these seemed to fit our climate.
Craig P on Feb 9, 2019
good pollinator
JIM S on Feb 4, 2019
I bought two Shiro plum tree in 2017 that required this one as pollinator while it may also be a sweet tasted fruit which is my favourite.
Ying Z on Jan 11, 2019
looks good
chad c on Oct 19, 2018
Purchased this tree so the Shiro Plum tree I ordered would be pollinated.
Kathleen J on Oct 18, 2018
A Japanese plum I grew years ago did better (until a tree fell on it) than the European plum I have.
Maria P on Oct 15, 2018
I chose this because of the high praise it received, the juicy sweetness of its fruit, and its beauty.
Katherine F on Jan 19, 2018
To pollinate my plumcot tree
Irene A on Mar 13, 2017
A good eating and jelly
Carolyn D on Feb 14, 2017
Sweet red plums and a heavy producer, we make jams and can them in the pressure cooker, they make great topping for ice cream, toast, sandwiches and pancakes
Kevin H on Nov 18, 2016
My Shiro plum tree will need a pollinator, and these look delicious!
Cat L on Sep 7, 2016
It's a great tasting plum.
John R on Aug 25, 2016
Good combination of traits, and will pollinate with a plumcot.
DAVID S on Jun 5, 2016
I chose this Plum Tree because it was suggested as a great pollinator for the Elephant Heart Plum Tree.
Troylene B on Jun 20, 2020
Review says disease resistant
Tabitha M on Jun 18, 2019
I already have Big Blue and Santa Rosa varieties. I know they are not on your list of preferred pollinators for Starking Delicious or Elephant Heart, but will they serve as adequate pollinators for either Starking Delicious or Elephant Heart plums?
Jeff P on Mar 20, 2017
BEST ANSWER: Starking Delicious and Elephant Heart are Asian/Japanese type plums, so Santa Rosa (another Asian/Japanese type plum) should work just fine as a pollinator for those varieties. 'Big Blue' is a European type plum, so it is not recommended.
is it a dwarf?
dennis on Mar 24, 2020
BEST ANSWER: You can keep it as small as you would like. I cut mine off at 3' and will continue pruning every year to keep it that small.
Can trees that require a pollinator, like plums be grafted onto one so that the tree. becomes self polinating?
Ed W on May 31, 2019
BEST ANSWER: Yes, you can. We offer several such trees on our website, like this one: https://www.starkbros.com/products/fruit-trees/plum-trees/stark-custom-graft-2-n-1-plum/
I bought two of the delicious plum trees can one of them be used as the pollinator?
Raymond S on Mar 31, 2018
BEST ANSWER: You will need a different variety that blooms at a similar time in order to pollinate your Starking Delicious trees. We recommend Redheart, Shiro, Ozark Premier or Methley.
How many chill hours? Zone compatibility doesn't seem to take this into account. If something needs 800+ chill hours, it may never fruit in zone 8.
goldyhands on Nov 29, 2017
BEST ANSWER: This variety requires 300-500 chilling hours.
I think the plum tree i have is a Candy Plum is that a good pollinator for Ozark Plum?
Douglas T on Aug 27, 2016
BEST ANSWER: We're not familiar with a "Candy Plum." Could you mean "Bubblegum"? That is also known as "Toka," which is a Japanese-American hybrid. Pollination might be iffy. Ozark Premier is a Japanese plum that needs pollination by another Japanese, like Shiro or Starking?? Delicious??? Plum.
I have a Plumcot tree which produced a huge crop this year.it was polinated by a Santa Rosa but I lost the Santa Rosa. . The Starking Delicious would be a pollinator for my plumcot but will the plumcot pollinate the Starking?
BETH R. on Jul 14, 2020
I purchased a Starking Delicious dwarf plum from you a few years ago and then an Ozark Premier plum; both are growing well. However, the Starking is in flower now but the Ozark is not. How will they cross pollinate one another? Is there something I could do to speed up flower production in the Ozark? Both trees are growing near one another.
WENDY P on Apr 16, 2020

Customer Reviews

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4.4 / 5.0
35 Reviews
5 Stars
4 Stars
3 Stars
2 Stars
1 Star
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Starking Delicious Plum
This is my second time purchasing this tree due to change of residence. The plum is extremely high quality and similar to the plums offered in grocery stores. I have customers asking when these plums will be ready for sale because they are liked by so many people.
May 11, 2016
Purchased
 over 5 years ago
Sweet--great producer
The tree is quite hardy, bears heavily in Utah, and is a sweet, versatile plum. Caution: My 25 year old tree was killed by borers. Though it seemed to be resistant, the borers finally killed it--I should have given that problem more attention early on. I am now growing a replacement--same tree.
May 24, 2016
Purchased
 over 5 years ago
Growing Great In Zone 9
Very pleased with all trees. They are growing nicely in second and branching for upcoming fruit bearing. Expect a small third year crop. Will thin heavily to avoid hampering vigor and growth. Prune in fall and use a regular fertilization and pest control. Have 26 Stark fruit trees in my backyard garden
August 7, 2016
Great purchase
I live in central illinois my tree is just about to finish its first full year in the ground no fruit yet. But that's normal , the tree has I would say easily grown 4 times it's original size I'm looking forward to seeing what it does next year.
September 11, 2016
Purchased
 over 5 years ago
Growing well
I purchased the Starking Delicious Plum as well as another variety late last spring. They were both the smallest size Stark sells but they leafed out soon after planting last year and have leafed out beautifully again this spring. I'm sure I am still several years from the time the trees will be mature enough to fruit but I am looking forward to that time.
June 16, 2016
Purchased
 over 5 years ago
Great Customer Service
StarkBro"s is a great company to do business with. I rate them as a top notice company in customer service. As for the Startking Delicious Plum trees that I received they came fast and in great condition. If one has any questions or problems with any of the products from StarkBro's just call them. They have always be very helpful to me. I will do business with them again.
May 10, 2016
Purchased
 over 5 years ago
So far so good
We are now in the second season for this tree. It has flowered beautifully and leafed out fully to the end of the branches. The branching pattern is very even and attractive. Still too young for any crop, although there are about 10 developing fruit on the tree. We were very conscientious about watering last year and will reduce the water somewhat this year. The tree seems to be thriving.
May 18, 2016
Purchased
 over 5 years ago
input on fruit trees i have bought from Stark Bros
I am happy with the way they are growing. my trees are young. this will be their first year to have fruit(2 years old coming up)hope to have more than I can eat thanks!!
November 5, 2016
Purchased
 over 5 years ago
great tree
Great looks good looking forward to when it starts to fruit
June 16, 2016
Purchased
 over 5 years ago
This tree is doing extremely well. I have lots of new growth and it is doing beautiful ly. I'm very pleased with this tree and would recommend Starks to anyone. You get what you pay for.
May 19, 2017
Purchased
 over 4 years ago

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