Prunus domestica Opal - U Shape Common plum

The 'Opal' Plum is a variety of fairly strong vigour, productive and regular. It produces small round plums, slightly oval, purple-red on a yellow background. Their flesh is juicy and tasty. The harvest of this early variety starts at the end of July and continues into August. The 'Opal' Plum is self-fertile and proves to be a very good pollinator. It is resistant to diseases.

The original area of plum trees is said to be Syria, not China. During the time of Roman hegemony in the region, various local fruits including plums were introduced to Rome. The 'Opal' Plum is a variety selected in Sweden in 1925, in Alnarp. It is the result of cross-breeding: 'Early Favourite' x 'Reine-Claude d'Oullins'.

This fruit tree naturally grows up to 5m (16ft) tall at maturity. The upright silhouette given by its habit is appreciated, and, when pruned properly, it will be easy to harvest. It enjoys the sun or partial shade, sheltered from the wind, and grows in any type of rich, moist, deep, and even heavy soil, but without limestone.
Its leaves are ovate, almost oblong, serrated-dentate, and slightly pubescent.
Flowering occurs in late April. The tree is then completely covered in white flowers that appear on the previous year's shoots. They are self-fertile. This variety is perfect for pollinating many other plum trees.
It produces small round plums, slightly oval, purple-red on a yellow background. Their flesh is juicy and tasty.

The plums are consumed raw at the foot of the tree, in fruit salads, but also in desserts, pastries, as an accompaniment to meat and dishes. They can be transformed into jams, of course, but also into preserved fruits, compotes... They can also be used to make eau-de-vie.