Red Ace Japanese Plum

Red Ace Plum (Prunus salicina 'Red Ace')

Red Ace Plum is a Japanese plum valued for abundant crops of sweet, juicy fruit with bright red skin and amber to red flesh; a manageable, rounded tree that brings reliable summer harvests to sunny home orchards and edible landscapes.

Distinctive Features

Showy Fruit: Medium to large, aromatic plums with tender skin and rich sweet-tart flavor; Season Extender: Dependable midseason ripening provides generous yields when thinned properly.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Full sun for strongest bloom, sugar, and color.
• Soil: Deep, well-drained loam enriched with organic matter; avoid waterlogged sites.
• Water: Keep evenly moist from bloom through fruit swell; reduce slightly after harvest.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9.
• Mature Size: About 12 to 15 ft tall and wide on semi-dwarf; 8 to 12 ft on dwarf rootstocks.
• Bloom Time: Spring; fruit ripens mid to late summer depending on climate.
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral, about 6.0 to 7.0.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Spring bloom and red fruit create a seasonal highlight.
• Home Orchard: High-quality plums for fresh eating, baking, and preserves.
• Edible Landscape: Attractive canopy pairs with herbs and pollinator borders.
• Small Yard Tree: Manageable size on dwarf or pruned semi-dwarf fits patios and lawns.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Deeply soak when the top 1 to 2 in are dry; increase frequency during heat and fruit swell.
• Pruning: Train to open center; winter prune to renew fruiting wood and summer thin watersprouts for light and airflow.
• Fertilizing: Feed in early spring with a balanced fruit tree fertilizer based on soil test; avoid excess nitrogen that softens fruit.
• Mulching: Apply 2 to 3 in organic mulch, keeping it a few inches from the trunk to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
• Notes: Partially self-fruitful but heavier crops with a compatible Japanese plum such as Santa Rosa or Burgundy; thin fruit to 4 to 6 in spacing and monitor for brown rot and plum curculio.

Why Choose Red Ace Plum?

• Reliable Yields: Consistent production with proper thinning.
• Excellent Flavor: Sweet, juicy fruit with lively acidity.
• Home Garden Fit: Adaptable tree size and straightforward training.
• Versatile in the Kitchen: Delicious fresh and outstanding for jam and desserts.

Plant in full sun with deep, well-drained soil, provide steady moisture during fruit set, and prune and thin regularly for abundant, high-quality plums.