Item Number: FT212
Mariposa Plum Tree
Large plums with vibrant red flesh.
Mariposa plum trees are known for their large, heart-shaped fruit with smooth purple skin and vibrant red flesh. These sweet, juicy plums are ideal for fresh eating, making preserves, or adding to desserts. The tree thrives in full sun and well-draining soil, requiring a pollinator, such as Methley or Santa Rosa, for maximum yields. Mariposa ripens mid-season and delivers consistent harvests of high-quality fruit. With its striking appearance, rich flavor, and productivity, Mariposa is a top choice for plum enthusiasts.
Semi-dwarf on Citation rootstock.
- Zones: 6-10
- Chill hours: 250
- Bloom Time: Early Mid-Season (Based on typical Central Valley California weather)
- Harvest: July 28 - August 15
- Looks: Large plums with nearly freestone red flesh and a small pit. Glossy green skin is mottled with maroon. It's actually very attractive.
- Personality: Sweet, juicy, firm and delicious with pleasantly tart skin.
- Facts of note: Low chill hours, good choice for milder climates. Also known as Improved Satsuma. The Mariposa plum was selected by Jennie Benedict Thompson in 1923 from a chance seedling found growing in Pasadena, California.
- Pollination: Pollinated by Catalina, Nubiana, or Santa Rosa.
Growing Mariposa Plum Trees
- Best Growing Conditions: Mariposa plum trees thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. For optimal growth, plant in a sunny spot with organic compost to promote healthy growth. Ensure the soil is rich in nutrients to support the tree size and encourage firm, juicy plums with pleasantly tart skin.
- Chill Hours & Temperature Requirements: Mariposa plums require 250 chill hours, making them ideal for milder climates (zones 6-10). The tree grows best in early spring temperatures, with fresh eating plums ripening in fall. Proper chilling helps with new growth and produces medium-sized fruit.
- Pollination Partners: For the best yields, Mariposa plum trees need pollinators such as Santa Rosa, Improved Satsuma, or other Japanese plums. Cross-pollination with these pollinators enhances the production of ripe plums with a small pit and rich flavor.
Mariposa Plum Harvest Information
- Bloom Time: The Mariposa plum tree blooms in early spring, with delicate flowers that signal the start of new growth. The full sun exposure and well-drained soil enhance the tree’s development, promoting healthy growth and a high-quality harvest of sweet, juicy plums.
- Harvest Window: Mariposa plums ripen from July 28 to August 15, producing medium-sized fruit with pleasantly tart skin and delicious ripe fruit. These juicy plums, with a small pit and mottled maroon skin, are perfect for fresh eating, making jams, or adding to desserts.
Benefits of Growing Mariposa Plum Tree
- Delicious, Sweet, and Juicy Fruit: The Mariposa plum produces sweet, juicy plums with a pleasantly tart skin. These medium-sized fruit are perfect for fresh eating, making jams, or adding to desserts.
- Low Maintenance and High Yield: This tree thrives in well-drained soil, requiring minimal effort beyond regular watering and occasional balanced fertilizer. It produces reliable harvests of ripe plums in early spring to fall, with fruit that has a small pit and is rich in dietary fiber and vitamins.
- Thrives in Full Sun and Outdoor Spaces: The Mariposa plum tree requires a sunny spot and full sun for optimal growth, and it's perfect for gardeners with outdoor space. When planted in well-prepared soil, it grows with healthy growth and can endure dry spells while producing aromatic, flavorful plums.
Tree Care Tips
- Watering & Maintenance: Water regularly and ensure your Mariposa plum tree is planted in well-drained soil enriched with organic compost. Proper watering, especially during dry spells, will promote healthy growth and ensure ripe plums with sweet juicy flavor and a pleasantly tart skin.
- Pruning & Harvesting Tips: To maintain the tree size and encourage robust fruit production, prune your plum trees in early spring before new growth begins. Pruning will enhance air circulation and allow for easier harvesting of medium-sized fruit, like the ripe fruit of the Mariposa plum, which has a small pit and rich, aromatic flesh.
Why Choose Mariposa Plum?
- Perfect for Plum Enthusiasts: The Mariposa plum tree produces ripe plums with sweet juicy flavor and pleasantly tart skin. Ideal for fresh eating, making jams, or enjoying the rich, aromatic flesh, this tree is a favorite among plum trees lovers who appreciate medium-sized fruit with a small pit.
- Great for Milder Climates: The Mariposa plum thrives in milder climates due to its low chill hours. Its ability to grow in well-drained soil and full sun, along with its healthy growth when paired with organic compost and regular watering, makes it a fantastic choice for those in zones 6-10, providing a consistent harvest of delicious fruit in early fall.
Why Buy Mariposa Plum Tree From Us?
Our Mariposa plum trees are grown with care, offering healthy growth and the ability to thrive in well-drained soil with full sun. These trees are perfect for fresh eating, producing sweet juicy plums with pleasantly tart skin and mottled maroon skin. We ensure our trees have a strong root ball, promoting healthy growth and abundant harvests of medium-sized fruit, making them a top choice for your garden and outdoor space.
Visit our Fruit Tree Central for a listing of all our fruit tree videos and articles.
Visit Tree Characteristics for a listing of all our fruit & nut tree growing characteristics.
Check Your Zone Compatibility:
Our Guarantee To You
Since 1976, we've served our customers at every stage of growing. Please contact us at any time. We are happy to support and assist you.
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
- Suited to Warmer 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.
