Black Ice Plum Tree

BlackIce® plum is the trade name of the ‘Lydecker’ hybrid, selected for cold-climate fruit production. It bears large, round, dark blue-black plums with sweet, juicy flesh that ripen around early August in Wisconsin. [Johnson’s Nursery](https://kb.jniplants.com/black-ice-plum-pruunus-lydecker) · [U.S. plant patent](https://patents.google.com/patent/USPP16621P2/en) ## Fruit and Placement Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. ‘Lydecker’ is self-sterile and produces little to no pollen, so fruiting depends on a compatible pollinizer nearby; Johnson’s lists Toka, La Crescent, or American plum as options. The fruit can be eaten fresh or used in cooking and preserves. This compact plum fits a home orchard where a tree around 10 to 15 feet wide can be given room for its crown. [Johnson’s Nursery](https://kb.jniplants.com/black-ice-plum-pruunus-lydecker) · [Fedco Seeds](https://fedcoseeds.com/trees/black-ice-hybrid-plum-7420) ## Seasonal Interest Small white flowers appear in spring before the black fruit develops. Leaves and fruiting spurs support the crop, so avoid treating this as a purely ornamental plum. [U.S. plant patent](https://patents.google.com/patent/USPP16621P2/en) ## Maintenance Prune in the dormant season, during winter or early spring, using a plum-specific training approach. Inspect for brown rot, bacterial canker, and plum curculio, which are known problems on plums. Keep the center open enough for light and airflow without removing productive spurs. [Johnson’s Nursery](https://kb.jniplants.com/black-ice-plum-pruunus-lydecker)