Elephant Heart

Plum

Size

Large (~7-8 cm) - one of the biggest plum varieties

Shape

Distinctive heart-shaped, with a pointed non-stem end

Flavor

Sweet, tart, and floral, with notes of vanilla and berries; rich and complex

Texture

Firm, dense, juicy; freestone

Ripening window

Very late season (Aug - Sep); blooms early (March)

Best uses

Fresh eating - a boutique/farmers-market variety

Pollination

Sources disagree on self-fertility; benefits strongly from a pollinator with matching bloom period - Santa Rosa is the consistent recommendation

Tree size

12-18 ft depending on rootstock

Notes

Japanese plum (Prunus salicina) bred by Luther Burbank in Sonoma County, CA, early 1900s-1920s; also called "Burbank Elephant Heart" or "Blood Plum". Deep purple-red skin, blood-red flesh. Hardy to about -15F, zones 5-9; low-chill, good fit for zone 8a. Watch for bacterial canker (amber sap on trunk/branches).