Item Number: FT210
French Improved Prune Tree
Classic plums for versatile use.
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Description
Description
French Improved Prune Tree is a classic European plum for gardeners who want fruit that moves effortlessly from the tree to the pantry. Medium, elongated plums ripen deep purple around firm golden flesh with concentrated sweetness and enough structure for drying into traditional prunes. The fruit is also delicious fresh and performs beautifully in preserves, pastries, sauces, and baked desserts. Its firm texture and high sugar content help flavors intensify rather than disappear during cooking or drying. Delicate white spring blossoms bring orchard beauty before the dependable late-summer crop develops. For home preservers, bakers, and anyone who appreciates an old-fashioned European plum, French Improved offers remarkable versatility: a productive tree whose harvest can be eaten immediately, stored in jars, or dried for enjoyment long after plum season ends. French Improved descends from the French prune stock that Louis Pellier brought to California from Agen in the 1850s.
French Improved grows semi-dwarf on Citation rootstock and is suited to USDA zones 5–9, with a confirmed 800-hour chill requirement. Harvest generally spans August through September. Plant in full sun, prune for airflow, and allow fruit to develop full sugar before processing.
French Improved is self-fruitful and can bear alone. Another compatible European plum may improve set; consider Italian Plum or Blue Damson.
French Improved Prune Tree Details
- Fruit: Medium elongated plums with deep-purple skin and golden flesh
- Flavor and texture: Firm, sweet, concentrated, and richly plum flavored
- Best uses: Fresh eating, drying, preserves, baking, and sauces
- Harvest: August through September
- USDA zones: 5–9
- Chill hours: 800
- Tree size: Semi-dwarf on Citation rootstock
- Rootstock: Citation
- Pollination: Self-fruitful; another European plum may improve set
- Recommended pollinizers/companions: Italian Plum or Blue Damson
- Special care: Let fruit reach full sweetness before drying or preserving
- Something Special: French Improved descends from the French prune stock that Louis Pellier brought to California from Agen in the 1850s.
Orchard Planning Resources
Bare Root Tree Savings & Free Shipping
Bare Root Tree Savings & Free Shipping
Build your orchard and save by mixing and matching eligible bare root trees across qualifying varieties:
- Buy 3 qualifying bare root trees and save 5%
- Buy 10 qualifying bare root trees and save 15%
- Buy 6 qualifying bare root trees and receive free standard shipping
Ordering fewer than six trees? Orders of one to five qualifying bare root trees ship for a $29.99 fixed rate by FedEx or UPS.
Eligible trees may be combined within the BareRoot Trees shipping group. Potted plants, perennial bare roots, and fall perennials are tracked in separate shipping groups and do not count toward these thresholds.
Free standard and fixed-rate shipping offers apply to qualifying deliveries within the contiguous 48 states. USPS and expedited delivery are charged separately. Manufacturer-direct, dropship, and specially packaged products are excluded unless otherwise stated.
Shipping Information
Shipping Information
Cannot ship to the following states: HI, AK, PR, GU, VI
Shipping Weight: 5.0 lb
Dimensions: 47.5"L x 7.3"W x 2.75"H
Features
Features
- Bare Root
- Self-fruitful
- Suited to Cold Climates
Characteristics
Characteristics
Planting & Care
Planting & Care
Useful Information
Useful Information
Guarantee
Guarantee
Limited Dormant Tree & Plant Guarantee
* Claim deadline is June 15th
We guarantee that your dormant tree or plant will arrive in good, viable condition. If your tree arrives in substandard condition, notify us within 3 days of delivery. Please email pictures of the box, inside packaging, the tree and its roots to helpdesk@groworganic.com. We will investigate your claim and process a request to exchange or refund the damaged product.
If your dormant tree or plant has not grown new leaves by June 15th, you may be eligible for our Limited Dormant Tree & Plant Guarantee. This guarantee provides for a store credit for the purchase price of the tree, excluding shipping. Please see the Instructions below.
Important Dates:
- April 1st Dormant trees/plants must be planted in the ground
- May 15th Perform scratch test, if no new leaves have grown
- June 15th Deadline to apply for a dormant tree/plant credit
All required documentation must be received by June 15th for your claim to be considered. Claims or documentation received after June 15th will be denied, without exception. Instructions listed below
Terms and Conditions
We cannot guarantee that your tree or plant will remain alive and healthy after it is received, or bear fruit as there are too many variables in your environment that are beyond our control (i.e. soil preparation, weed and pest control, proper irrigation, chill hours, compatible hardiness for your growing zone, proper choice of pollinator, extreme weather, rodent damage, disease, etc.).
We cannot guarantee that we will be able to provide a replacement tree/plant of the same species either that same growing season or in future years. Customers are responsible for all shipping fees associated with replacement trees and plants.
If we determine that the tree you purchased directly from us is not viable, we will issue you a store credit (not a refund) for the purchase price of the affected dormant tree or plant. Shipping is not included in the dormant tree/plant guarantee. Store credits can be used to purchase any product we sell and are valid for use only until July 1st of the following year.
Historically, 98% of our dormant trees and plants grow and thrive when they have been cared for and planted using our growing guides. Dormant trees and plants must be planted in the ground by April 1st in order to be eligible for credit. If the ground in your area is still frozen solid, you may temporarily plant your tree or plant in a pot.
Potted, non-dormant trees or plants are excluded from this guarantee as they are not dormant at the time of shipment. Evergreen trees such as citrus, avocado and olive trees are not available for credit under the Dormant Tree and Plant Guarantee.
Instructions
We guarantee that your dormant fruit tree or plant will leaf out, if you care for it according to our growing guides. In the unlikely event that your dormant tree or plant does not have leaves by May 15th, follow these simple steps to apply for a store credit:
Before you call or email, please perform a “scratch test” to determine if the tree or plant is still alive. This video shows how to check for live tissue under the bark. Scratch tests need to be done a few inches above and below the graft.
Green Cambium Layer / Living Trees
If the cambium layer under the bark is green, give your tree a little more time. It is still alive, but hasn’t come out of dormancy yet. Check to make sure that it is getting the right amount of deep root water, enough sunlight and that the weather is warm enough for that type of tree/plant to come out of dormancy. Every tree has its own personality and will come out of dormancy at different times. Be sure to submit the required documentation listed below by June 15th, if it doesn’t grow leaves.
Brown Cambium Layer / Dead Trees
If the scratch test shows a brown cambium layer or if your dormant tree/plant doesn’t have leaves by June 1st, please email us at helpdesk@groworganic.com. All required documentation listed below must be received by June 15th for your claim to be considered. To be considered for the guarantee claim, all required documentation must be received by June 15th. Incomplete submissions will be denied.
Required Documentation
- Order number
- Name of dormant tree/plant and the quantity affected
- Photos of each tree or plant showing:
- The roots (tree or plant must be pulled out of the ground)
- The scratch test areas
- The entire tree/plant
We reserve the right to not issue credit for items that have already been replaced. We also reserve the right to require photographic evidence that the tree/plant was not killed by root rot, rodent or mechanical damage.
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Received my trees (one potted fig and two bare root prunes). Shipping quality was great, but they arrived in mid-february at my home in Lexington Kentucky. All the references I checked say the last killing frost here averages during the last week of April. Two and a half months is a long time to try and keep these tress viable and dormant.
I bought a Stella Cherry, Green Gage, Emerald Beauty Plum, and a French Prune. They arrived well packaged and all in good condition. These plants were well developed plants with excellent roots systems. The Emerald Beauty had a strong roots ball and began to show sign of growth within a week. All stood about 36 inches tall,I cut back all the trees hoping to get the best first year root grown and now, a month since I planted them all have growth at the buds. So far I'm a happy gardener.
Shipped well, looked good upon arrival. Put the tree in the ground a couple weeks ago. Should be coming out of dormancy soon, I have high hopes.
Arrived healthy, on time, well packaged. Planted and awaiting future harvests! :)
This is a great bare root tree. It has a thick, well developed trunk and a good set of roots. The package came with the roots wrapped in wood shavings and was still moist. I’ve had the tree planted for a little over a week and it has started pushing buds out. I’ve bought other bare root trees from over places and none have been this good! I will be buying more trees from here.
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