Pembina Plum vs Opata Cherry Plum - TreeTime.ca

Pembina Plum vs Opata Cherry Plum

Prunus besseyi x salicina Opata

Prunus nigra x salicina Pembina

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Opata Cherry Plum
Pembina Plum

Opata Cherry Plum is considered to be one of the best tasting Cherry Plum varieties. It has a pleasant, sweet flavour and a hint of acidity. They ripen in mid to late August and are well suited to fresh eating, baking, and preserves.

The fruit is closer to a plum than a cherry but is smaller than most plums.The Opata Cherry Plum’s skin is red/green whereas the flesh is yellow-green. The flesh is freestone with a juicy, firm texture. Similar to other stone fruits, it does not store for very long.

The Opata Cherry Plum is a hybrid between a Western Sand Cherry and a Japanese (Chinese) Plum. For fruit production, it needs to be planted with another variety for cross-pollination. Canada Plum and American Plum are considered universal pollinizers.

Pembina Plum is one of the best-tasting plums that can be planted on the prairies. It is semi-freestone with orange flesh that is soft, juicy, and sweet which contrasts with the thick, sour, dark red skin. The plums can grow up to 5 cm in diameter and are well-suited for fresh eating, baking, and preserves.

They typically ripen in mid to late August and should be picked as soon as they are ripe. If left too long, the fruit will fall off the tree.

Pembina Plum is a hybrid between Canada Plum and Japanese Plum. For fruit production, it needs to be planted with another variety for cross-pollination. Canada Plum and American Plum are considered universal pollinizers.

Opata Cherry Plum Quick Facts

Pembina Plum Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 2b
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Height: 4 m (14 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: yes
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: yellow to orange
Fruit size: 3 cm in diameter
Flavor: pleasant and sweet, hint of acidity
Harvest: mid to late August
Flowers: white
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Maintenance: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: medium




Other Names: opata chum, opata plum cherry