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

28 ReviewsAsk Questions
Starting at
$29.99

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
Pollination Pollinator Needed
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

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'

Recommended Pollinators

This variety requires another one for adequate pollination.

Cross-pollination by a different variety is key to its growing and bearing success. Our experts recommend planting one of the following within 50' for optimum pollination.

Related Assortments

This item is also available in this money saving assortment.

We bundle many of our popular products in assortments with other items that compliment each other. Plus, when you purchase an assortment, you save money compared to buying each item individually!

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 »

You don't pay until it ships.

We work hard to make sure that your order arrives at the ideal time for planting in your location. That's why we only ship living products during certain times of the year. Order now and your credit card won't be charged until your climate is suitable for planting success and your order is shipped.

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

We've 'tagged' this item with specific keywords that help you find other products that share features or characteristics with this one. Select a tag below to view all the items that have that particular trait.

Questions & Answers

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Browse 5 questions Browse 5 questions and 15 answers
Why did you choose this?
Stark Bro's Store
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
Purchased this tree so the Shiro Plum tree I ordered would be pollinated.
Kathleen J on Oct 18, 2018
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
looks good
chad c on Oct 19, 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 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.
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.

Customer Reviews

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4.5 / 5.0
28 Reviews
5 Stars
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3 Stars
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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 3 years ago
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 3 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
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 3 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 3 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 3 years ago
great tree
Great looks good looking forward to when it starts to fruit
June 16, 2016
Purchased
 over 3 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 3 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 3 years ago
Doing well this year.
Planted last fall. Doing well this spring, even had a few blooms.
May 12, 2016
Purchased
 over 3 years ago

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