Plant Library

Other Names:  Ooray, Queensland Davidson's Plum

Description:

A medium sized, tropical selection that presents large, compound green leaves and clusters of dark purple fruit with red flesh; high in antioxidants, the fruit are perfect for jams, preserves or wine; an ornamental selection suitable for large containers

Edible Qualities

Davidson's Plum is a medium-sized tree that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. It produces deep purple oval fruit with red flesh which are typically harvested when mature. The fruits have a sour taste.

The fruit are most often used in the following ways:

• Eating When Cooked/Prepared
• Baking
• Preserves
• Wine-Making
• Sauces

Features & Attributes

Davidson's Plum has attractive green evergreen foliage which emerges pink in spring on a tree with a horizontally-tiered habit of growth. The textured oval compound leaves are highly ornamental and remain green throughout the winter.

This is an evergreen tree with a stunning habit of growth which features almost oriental horizontally-tiered branches. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Messy

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Davidson's Plum is sutiable for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Orchard/Edible Landscaping
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Davidson's Plum will grow to be about 26 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 13 feet. It has a high canopy with a typical clearance of 5 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years.

This plant is typically grown in a designated edibles garden. It does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America..

Davidson's Plum is a good choice for the edible garden, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, this plant may be too tender to survive the winter if left outdoors in a container. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.