Shiro Plum

Shiro Plum (Prunus salicina 'Shiro')

Shiro Plum is an early to midseason Japanese plum prized for heavy crops of round, golden yellow fruit with thin skin and juicy, sweet-mild flesh; its manageable, rounded tree delivers reliable harvests in sunny home orchards and edible landscapes.

Distinctive Features

Abundant white spring blossoms are followed by bright yellow plums with tender skin and refreshing sweetness; productive, often self-fertile in many areas but heavier with a compatible Japanese plum nearby.

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 early to mid summer, often July.
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral, about 6.0 to 7.0.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Spring bloom and sunny yellow fruit create a seasonal highlight.
• Home Orchard: Reliable, sweet plums for fresh eating, baking, and jam.
• Edible Landscape: Attractive canopy pairs with herbs and pollinator borders.
• Small Yard Tree: Manageable size on dwarf or pruned semi-dwarf suits 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: Often self-fruitful but heavier crops with a Japanese plum such as Santa Rosa; thin to 4 to 6 in spacing and monitor for brown rot and plum curculio.

Why Choose Shiro Plum?

• Sunny Color: Golden yellow fruit brightens summer harvests.
• Sweet and Juicy: Tender skin and mild, refreshing flavor.
• Productive and Early: Generous yields ahead of many midseason plums.
• Home Garden Fit: Compact size with straightforward training.

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