Prunus domestica 'Bluefire'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PROO-nus doh-MESS-tik-a
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The 'Bluefre' or 'Bluefire' European plum is an upright and vase-shaped cultivar of Prunus domestica. It can be grown as a shrub or small tree, has showy white flowers, and edible fruit with purple skin and sweet yellow flesh. It can be slightly thorny. It is usually self-fruitful, but planting different cultivars as a group is recommended for better fruiting. Pairing 'Bluefre' with 'Stanley', 'Verity', 'Empress', or 'President' is common.
For best results locate the 'Bluefre' European plum in a sheltered site with full sun, medium moist, organic soil with good drainage. It is susceptible to early spring frost damage. Avoid any periodic chemical spraying in the vicinity of the tree.
'Bluefre' is a vigorous, productive plant and bears fruit at an early age. The fruit hangs well after ripening. Thinning is recommended.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
Prone to split-pit and susceptible to black knot. Aphids can be a common problem to all plum trees.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Species:
- domestica
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Good for fresh eating, preserves, drying, and canning.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Turkey
- Wildlife Value:
- This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Edibility:
- This Bluefre European plum has a purple-blue skin and yellow flesh. It is sweet and good for drying and can also be eaten raw or cooked.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- This Bluefire European plum has a purple-blue skin and yellow flesh. It is sweet and good for drying.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Showy white flowers with 5 petals and long stamens appear singly or in pairs in spring before leaf-out.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The egg-shaped leaves have fine teeth on the margin. The leaves are 2 to 4 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide. The base is wedge-shaped and the tip is pointed. The upper surface has hairs.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Bark Description:
- Thin smooth bark on mature trees.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Cluster of terminal buds
- Stem Bud Scales:
- Enclosed in more than 2 scales
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Leaf Scar Shape:
- Encircles a bud
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Smooth and dark brown. Three or more overlapping scales on buds.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Small Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting: brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Cyanogenic glycosides
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
- Seeds
- Stems
