Santa Rosa Plum - Monrovia
Best fruit tree for home gardeners seeking fresh harvests and preserves.
The Santa Rosa Plum tree from Monrovia offers a delightful spring bloom followed by an abundant summer harvest of dark crimson fruit. Known for its firm flesh and wonderful flavor, the fruit is perfect for fresh eating or making preserves. This deciduous tree requires 400 chill hours for optimal fruit production and benefits from fruit thinning for best quality. It reaches a mature height and spread of 30 feet, thrives in full sun, and prefers well-drained, average soils. Annual winter pruning helps maintain its shape.
$159.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.5
/ 5
Category Rank
542
/ 1377
#542 in Trees
Price vs Category Average
+49%
Above average
Brand
Monrovia Growers
/ Monrovia Growers
Who it's for
- Home cooks seeking superior flavor for fresh eating and preserves
- Gardeners with limited space needing a single self-pollinating tree
- Landscapers wanting dual-purpose trees with beautiful spring blossoms
Who should skip it
- Casual growers unprepared for a rapid, high-volume harvest
- Busy gardeners unable to commit to regular pest monitoring
- Residents in warm climates lacking sufficient winter chill hours
Performance breakdown
Culinary Versatility
Exceptional balance of flavor makes it ideal for snacking or preserving.
Ornamental Appeal
Showy spring blossoms provide significant aesthetic value to any landscape.
Maintenance Intensity
Requires consistent pruning and fruit thinning to ensure optimal harvest quality.
Climate Adaptability
Specific chill hour requirements necessitate careful planning for successful fruit production.
Training Potential
Flexible growth habit allows for creative espalier training against garden walls.
Wildlife Resilience
Low deer resistance means protective measures are likely necessary for survival.
Key Specs
Brand
Monrovia Growers
Family Name
Rosaceae
Genus Name
Prunus
Bloom Time
Spring
Mature Height
30 ft
Mature Width
30 ft
Light Needs
Full sun
Hardiness Zone
Zone 5
Features
- Abundant harvest of dark crimson fruit
- Wonderful flavor for fresh eating
- Ideal for preserves and jellies
- Showy spring flowers
- Deer resistant
- Suitable for espalier training
- Requires 400 chill hours
- Fruit thinning recommended
What customers say
Customers consistently praise the exceptional quality and health of the Santa Rosa Plum upon arrival. The trees are reliably well packaged and arrive robust, ready for planting. Reviewers frequently highlight the strong root systems and vigorous growth, confirming Monrovia's reputation for delivering reliable, high performing nursery stock. This tree is a favorite for its dependable establishment and eventual abundant, sweet fruit yield.
Know before you buy
Chill hours refer to the cumulative time a tree spends in temperatures between 32 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter. The Santa Rosa Plum needs at least 400 of these hours to break dormancy and produce fruit effectively in the spring.
While the Santa Rosa Plum is considered self-fertile, planting it near another compatible plum variety can often increase your overall fruit yield. If you have limited space, a single tree will still produce fruit on its own.
Since this tree reaches a mature height and spread of 30 feet, you should plant it in an area that allows for a 30-foot diameter. Ensure it is placed away from structures or power lines to accommodate its full growth.
Fruit thinning involves removing some of the small, developing plums early in the season so the remaining fruit has more space and nutrients to grow. This practice results in fewer, but significantly larger and higher-quality plums.
Yes, you can manage the size and shape of the tree through annual winter pruning. Because this variety is also suitable for espalier training, it can be trained to grow flat against a wall or fence, which helps control its footprint.
While the Santa Rosa Plum is noted for having some deer resistance, no plant is completely deer-proof. If you live in an area with a high deer population, you may still need to use protective measures, especially while the tree is young.
Still have a question?
Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
Ready to buy?
$160