European Plum Fruit Tree

Mount Royal is a cold-hardy European plum grown for fragrant spring flowers and sweet, blue-skinned fruit with yellow flesh. A tree can set fruit on its own, while a compatible plum nearby can improve the crop; allow room for a sunny, well-drained planting site. [Fort Collins’ plant list](https://apps.fcgov.com/plant-list/?view=979-mount-royal-european-plum) lists Mount Royal at about 10–15 feet tall and wide and notes its self-pollination. ## Fruit and placement The tree has a rounded, spreading canopy and white spring blossoms. Its freestone plums ripen in late summer; use them fresh or for baking and preserves. [A Mount Royal nursery profile](https://irp.cdn-website.com/33199382/files/uploaded/Prunus-_Mount_Royal.pdf) describes the cultivar as a European plum for USDA Zones 4–7 with an August harvest. Choose full sun and soil that drains freely, and leave air space around the canopy. ## Maintenance Water a newly planted tree during dry spells while it establishes, then keep moisture steady during fruit development. Remove damaged or crossing branches to preserve an open canopy, and collect fallen fruit after harvest. A second compatible plum is optional for fruit set, but can increase yield.