Satsuma Plum Scionwood (Spring 2025)

The tree is medium to large, upright-spreading, and vigorous. Moderately productive when young, it bears heavier crops as the tree becomes older. Satsuma has no significant disease issues, and like other Japanese plums, it is resistant to black knot. It is not self-fertile, and it should be grown with another Japanese plum. Recommended partners include Santa Rosa, Beauty, Burbank, Methley, Shiro, Toka, and Wickson. This tree has a low chill requirement, which has made it a California favorite.

The fruit is smallish and round with a skin that is mottled red and green and speckled with pale green dots. The dramatic, deep red flesh is firm and juicy, and the flavor is excellent, rich, and somewhat almond-like. "Satsuma," says Hedrick in Plums of New York, "besides being one of the best of its class in quality for either dessert or culinary purposes, keeps and ships very well."

Satsuma was the first Japanese red-fleshed plum to be grown in America. It was raised by the California horticulturalist Luther Burbank from a bag of seeds sent to him from Japan in 1883. Burbank introduced the variety in 1889. It is possibly a parent of Mariposa.

Photo courtesy of Whiffletree Nursery, Ontario, CA.