Shiro Japanese Plum Trees

The Shiro Japanese Plum Tree, Prunus salicina ‘Shiro’, is a little yellow orb of sunshine dangling against a beautiful dark green backdrop. A true yellow plum with only a few showing a slight blush of pink, the Shiro Japanese Plum is a truly unique plum tree addition for your home orchard. Your friends and neighbors will be amazed at your unique fruit selection and delighted to receive a bowl of these juicy gems as a gift from their favorite gardener.  

This gorgeous juicy yellow plum is soft and sweet with a slightly tart skin. It is so juicy you will need to have a napkin at the ready when you bite into one of these little golden balls of sun kissed joy. Warm from the tree, they will quickly become your favorite harvest.

Rare Fruit Alert

Finding the Shiro Plum at your local grocer is an effort in futility. This rare little yellow gem can sometimes be seen at small fruit and veggie stands, but they are gobbled up in a flash. The slightly translucent flesh and vibrant color make these plums irresistible for curious foodies.

Golden yellow, sweet and so juicy, they are typically not planted in large commercial orchards because of their short shelf life. If you are lucky, you may find them at local farmers markets when they are in season.

Therefore, the Shiro Plum tree has found its home in the orchards of home gardeners who can harvest and enjoy without worrying about the fruit’s transportation requirements. Isn’t that why we plant unusually varieties, because they taste so amazing and are not bred to ripen during the transportation process. The best way to enjoy these rare little jewels is to plant a tree or two in your own backyard. Besides, isn’t it the best when you can pick and enjoy the eating your home-grown fruit fresh from the tree?

The Shiro Japanese Plum is a great addition to your home orchard. They are a consistent and prolific bearer. Home gardeners have recorded Shiro Plum Trees as old as 40 years and still going strong. 

History Of The Shiro Japanese Plum Tree

Classified as a Japanese or Asian plum, the Shiro Plum, surprising, was developed in the United States. The plum is product of crossing for distinct varieties: the Apricot Plum, the Japanese Plum, the Cherry Plum, and the Munson Plum. It is believed to be a cultivar developed by famed plum horticulturist Luther Burbank, Shiro plums were first introduced to the American Public in 1899, and they have been a major hit with home gardeners ever since.

The fruit is classified as a clingstone. It does require a bit of work to remove the pit, but it is well worth the effort.

Planting Your Shiro Plum Tree

Whether you plant your Shiro Plum Tree as a specimen plant or as part of a home orchard, you will be rewarded with early fruiting, deliciously juicy plums, and revel in the pride of growing your own fruit,

The Shiro Japanese Plum Tree is rated to grow in USDA Growing Zones 5 through 9. Zone 5 will require good weather protection from frosts. They have a low chill requirement of only 400-500 chill hours making them a great choice for southern climates.

Plant your trees in full sun, with a good six hours of sunlight at the minimum. They love rich, well drained soil that has an acidic to mildly acidic pH of 5.6 to 6.5.The Shiro Plum is an early blooming variety and begins blossoming in March. The tree should bear fruit in two to three years. They ripen in late July to early August depending on your zone and weather. 

You will be proud to show off this beautiful specimen tree with its deep yellow colored fruit peeking out against the dark green leaves.

This rare gem is truly a showstopper!

Pollination

The Shiro Plum Tree is a poor self pollinator. The delicate white blossoms that appear in March, are, however, a favorite for bees.

If you are a beekeeper, or have a friend that will loan you a hive, pollination is easy providing you have a suitable early blooming Asian plum variety nearby. Popular pollination partners for the Shiro Japanese Plum include the Santa Rosa Plum or the Ozark Premier Plum.

Hardy and prolific, your Shiro Plum will be super productive. They have been known to bear fruit at a very early age.

Pruning And Thinning

Pruning

The Shiro Japanese Plum has an unruly, low growing and spreading habitat. At maturity, it can reach heights between 12 and 18 feet and a mature spread of 12 to 15 feet. 

Late winter is the best time for reigning in this plum tree’s spreading habitat. Pruning for size and shape along with removing cross branches is accomplished easily and will improve the tree’s fruit production and life span.

Thinning

The plum is a prolific producer with bunches of fruit running along the branches. Thinning the immature, green fruit when they are just forming will help produce a healthy crop that has room to grow on the branch. 

Plum Tree Diseases

In general, these plum trees are very hardy.The first line of defense in protecting your plum trees from disease is to prune away any branches that show signs of decay and disease. Removing broken and damaged branches is a key to successfully keeping your plum tree healthy.

Bacterial canker is one disease that can damage plum tree trunks and branches. If your tree shows signs of amber colored sap coming from the trunk, you may have bacterial canker. Spraying with copper in the fall and early spring will help control the situation. Try Bonide 811 Copper Fungicide to help get this nuisance disease under control. 

Uses For The Shiro Plum

The best way to enjoy this strikingly beautiful and versatile little gem is eating it fresh from the tree. Be sure lean away as you take that first bite, or you might find your shirt covered in sweet plum juice! The Shiro Plum will keep in storage for a few weeks before they begin to lose their freshness. They are best eaten fresh or transformed into a tasty treat or delicious preserve.

Toast and jam, one of the best breakfast treats on the planet, also makes a wonder snack with tea. Imagine a sweet and succulent yellow jam paired with a silky smooth mascarpone spread on your perfectly toasted baguette. When eaten on your patio with a perfect cup of tea, or paired with something bubbly, you will feel like you are in the south of France. Visit our list of 21 Plum Recipes That You Can Make At Home for a wide selection of ideas on how to prepare your plums. With a little bit of time in the kitchen, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor all winter long. Additionally, what a thoughtful gift yellow plum jam would make. Image how pretty rows of glass Mason jars will look filled with this vibrant golden deliciousness. 

Of course, baking with plums is a time honored kitchen tradition. You can substitute the Shiro Japanese Plum in any of your tried and true plum recipes. The gorgeous golden yellow flesh will elevate a humble plum tart in to a stunning dessert presentation.

Order Your Plum Tree Today

The Shiro Japanese Plum Tree will make a sensational addition to your garden or orchard. If you plant one this year, you could have these sweet, juicy, and colorful plums on your table in a few short years. Don’t wait, you will be sorry you did and will find yourself dreaming of golden yellow plums at harvest time.

Ordering your trees from a trusted and reputable plant nursery will ensure your orchard is off to a great start. This stunning plum tree is always in high demand. To secure your own Shiro Japanese Plum Tree, order without delay, these beauties get gobbled up fast. We highly recommend ordering your Shiro Japanese Plum Tree from Nature Hills Nursery, they are our trusted, go-to source in the fruit tree industry. 

In addition to ordering your Shiro Japanese Plum Tree, Nature Hills offers lots of great options for plum trees for your home orchard. Don’t forget to order a pollination partner for your Shiro Plum. Nature Hills carries two wonderful options; the Santa Rosa Plum or the Ozark Premier Plum.

Excited for more plum content? Then check out our plum trees page for the latest growing tips, care guides, recipes, and more!