Superior Plum Tree

Superior is the plum that northern gardens have been waiting for — a robust, cold-hardy American × Japanese hybrid (Prunus americana x Prunus salicina) developed by the University of Minnesota in 1933 specifically for the demanding conditions of northern growing regions. Large, fire-red fruit with sweet, juicy yellow flesh and a fine firm texture ripens in July — a generous, beautiful dessert plum that’s outstanding eaten fresh right off the tree. Where most Japanese plums struggle with cold winters, Superior was bred to thrive. Cold hardy in Zones 4–8.

Built for Northern Gardens — University of Minnesota, 1933

Superior’s University of Minnesota pedigree explains everything about why it performs so well in cold climates. The Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station’s fruit breeding program has been responsible for some of the hardiest and most productive fruits adapted to cold northern conditions — and Superior’s American × Japanese plum parentage is exactly the genetic combination that delivers cold hardiness without sacrificing the large, sweet, high-quality fruit character of the best Japanese plum varieties. Developed in 1933 and trusted by northern orchardists ever since.

Fire-Red Fruit With Sweet Juicy Yellow Flesh

Superior’s visual appeal at harvest is striking. The large, fire-red clingstone plums with their bright, vivid coloring against the green foliage make for a genuinely beautiful July harvest. Inside, the sweet, juicy yellow flesh with its fine, firm texture delivers the full, satisfying dessert plum quality that makes eating a perfectly ripe plum fresh off the tree one of summer’s most enjoyable experiences.

Why Growers Choose Superior

• Bred for northern gardens — University of Minnesota 1933, cold hardy in Zones 4–8
• American × Japanese hybrid — cold hardiness of Prunus americana, quality of Prunus salicina
• Large fire-red fruit — visually striking and beautiful at harvest
• Sweet, juicy yellow flesh — fine, firm texture perfect for fresh eating
• July ripening — reliable mid-summer stone fruit for northern orchards
• Abundant crops — robust, heavy-bearing tree once established