Prunus domestica 'Opal' (plum tree) — H90 cm | Pot Ø21 cm
- Regular price
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€49,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€49,95
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Frequently Asked Questions
When should Opal plums be harvested? From the end of July, making it one of the earliest plum trees.
When should a plum tree be pruned? After harvesting, in August-September: winter pruning exposes the tree to gummosis and wood diseases.
SHIPPING & PACKAGING
Shipping within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 business days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection to ensure the plant arrives in perfect condition
- Parcel tracking sent by email as soon as shipped
- Free delivery on orders over €50
48H QUALITY GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us within 48 hours at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- Free replacement or full refund
- No return necessary – we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage related to transport, severely weakened plant upon arrival, preparation errors.
CARE TIPS UPON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack immediately and inspect your plant
- Let it acclimatize 24-48h in a bright spot without direct sunlight
- Check soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting
- Avoid heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
🟣 Purple plums with golden flesh • 📅 Early harvest from late July • ✅ Self-fertile, a single tree is enough • ☀️ Full sun • ❄️ Hardy down to -25 °C • 🍂 Deciduous foliage
The Prunus domestica 'Opal' produces round plums with bluish-purple skin and golden flesh, sweet and fragrant, which separate easily from the stone. Originally from the Caucasus and Asia Minor, this cultivar was developed in Sweden and joins the fruit trees in the catalogue.
Its special feature lies in two combined advantages: it is self-fertile, so a single tree is enough to produce fruit, and its harvest starts as early as late July, three to four weeks earlier than most plum trees.
Which plum tree should you choose?
Two varieties in the catalogue, with staggered harvests:
- 'Opal' (this plant) — purple plums with golden flesh, harvested from late July, self-fertile. The earliest.
- 'Victoria' — large pink-orange plums, harvested in August-September, self-fertile (H90 cm | Pot Ø21 cm). The most productive.
As both are self-fertile, each produces fruit on its own: growing them together is intended to spread the harvest over nearly two months, not to ensure pollination.
Exposure & position
The plum tree needs full sun for the fruits to develop their sugar content. In partial shade, the tree produces fruit, but the plums remain acidic and color poorly.
- Exposure: full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun per day.
- Position: garden, large terrace, south-facing balcony — plan for a pot at least 40 cm in diameter when fully grown.
- Hardiness in a pot: down to -25 °C — winter cold is essential for fruiting.
- Soil type: deep, rich and well-drained — the plum tree tolerates heavy soils better than the cherry tree.
Its March-April flowering is early: in climates with late frosts, a sheltered position protects the flowers and therefore the harvest.
Watering & care
A potted fruit tree consumes much more water than one planted in the ground. A rich, well-draining substrate supports production, and the foliage always signals a problem before it worsens.
- Watering: regularly from April to July — two to three times a week in summer, especially while the fruits are swelling.
- Drainage: essential — never leave standing water in the saucer.
- Pruning: after harvest, in August-September only — never in winter.
- Thinning: in June, space the fruits 5 cm apart along the branch — the remaining plums will be larger, and the branches will not break under the weight.
- Fertilizer: fertilizer for fruit trees, at bud break and then after flowering.
An amber gum flow on the trunk, known as gummosis, almost always follows winter pruning or a poorly healed wound.
Decor ideas & plant pairings
The plum tree is the easiest fruit tree to grow on its own: self-fertile, tolerant of soil conditions, and productive from the first years. On a balcony, it is often the right first tree.
- To spread out the plum harvest, pair it with the 'Victoria' plum tree — late July, then August-September, providing fruit for nearly two months.
- To cover the entire season, add an 'Jonagold' apple tree — plums in July, apples in October.
- To fill the winter, place a BetterBuxus® in ball form next to it — its evergreen mass fills the space when the plum tree is bare.
- To enhance the pot, a terracotta or natural-fiber container keeps the substrate cool during the fruiting period.
The white flowering in March-April precedes the leaves: the tree is entirely white for around ten days.
Verdeia tips
- Choose it if you only have room for one tree: Opal is self-fertile and early. Whereas a cherry tree or a Jonagold apple tree requires a second tree to bear fruit, this one produces fruit on its own from the first few years.
- Never prune in winter: like all Prunus, the plum tree heals poorly in cold weather and reacts with gummosis. The only suitable period is August-September, just after harvesting.
- Protect it during late cold snaps: its March flowering is the earliest in the orchard, and a night at -2 °C is enough to destroy open flowers. A winter protection fleece placed the previous evening will save that year's harvest.
Technical specifications
- Botanical name: Prunus domestica 'Opal'
- Common name: Opal plum tree
- Family: Rosaceae
- Origin: Caucasus and Asia Minor, cultivar developed in Sweden
- Dimensions on delivery: H90 cm | Pot Ø21 cm
- Habit: already-trained grafted tree
- Mature height: 3 to 4 metres in a pot
- Exposure: full sun, at least 6 hours per day
- Watering: regular during the season, increased while the fruit is swelling
- Soil type: deep, rich, and well-drained
- Hardiness: down to -25 °C
- Pollination: self-fertile - one tree is enough
- Flowering: March to April, white, bee-friendly flowers, before the foliage
- Harvest: late July, one of the earliest plum trees
- Foliage: deciduous, medium-green oval leaves
- Care: prune after harvesting, June thinning recommended
- Toxicity: edible fruit, pits and leaves toxic if ingested
- Decorative style: Urban vegetable garden / Natural / Orchard
Each plant is unique: branching, the number of fruit buds, and vigor naturally vary from one specimen to another.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Shipping is done within 48 business hours, with tracked delivery within 2 to 5 business days. Delivery costs €5.60 — free for orders over €50. You will receive a tracking link as soon as the package is shipped.
What to do upon receiving my plant?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What to do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.