Prunus domestica Anna Spath - Common plum

The 'Anna Spath' Domestica Plum is a self-fertile variety that pollinates well, ensuring high fruit production. It produces a large-sized fruit with an ovoid, slightly elongated shape, smooth skin, and a beautiful pink-purple colour. Its yellowish flesh is firm, juicy, and very sweet. Fleshy and deliciously fragrant, it is a pleasant plum to enjoy fresh from the tree. Rich in sugar, it is also suitable for making jams, syrups, and daring sweet or savory recipes. It is an invigorating fruit with exceptional nutritional qualities. This plum tree prefers a warm, sunny, and sheltered exposure. It adapts well to ordinary, well-drained, fresh, deep, and fertile soil, but not too chalky and without stagnant moisture.

The Prunus domestica (Common Plum) is a fruit tree belonging to the Rosaceae family, like the apricot tree, almond tree, and peach tree. It is native to Syria, where it sometimes grows up to 1000 meters (3281 feet) altitude. The plum tree was introduced to France during the Middle Ages, and it was during the Renaissance that it spread and developed throughout the territory. The Anna Spath variety originates from Hungary and was introduced in 1870 by Mr. Spath in Berlin, Germany.

The 'Anna Spath' Plum forms a fruit tree with a fairly rounded structure, reaching a final height of approximately 4 to 6 meters (13 to 20 feet), producing numerous branches grouped in spreading crowns. Its habit is well-suited for open forms on high, semi- or low stems. Its deciduous foliage consists of obovate leaves, 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3in) long, with serrated edges, slightly pubescent on the underside, and dark green. Towards the end of March or early April, the white flowers, 1.5 to 2.5 cm (1in) in diameter, appear solitarily before the leaves on the previous year's branches. The flowering is sensitive to spring frosts, but it is so abundant that frost rarely affects the harvest. It is a remarkably decorative spring flowering, and particularly rich in nectar and pollen. It is a hardy tree that can withstand temperatures down to -20°C (-4°F). This variety is self-fertile, so it does not require a companion to bear fruit, but the presence of another plum variety nearby will increase production.

The 'Anna Spath' Plum is a fast-fruiting variety. Harvest begins towards the end of August and extends until mid-September as the fruits ripen. Since plums are quite fragile, they are harvested with a picking rod or manually on a ladder, but always with delicacy. An average plum tree produces between 40 and 60 kilograms of fruit per year. The fruit is large, approximately 4 to 6 cm (2in) in diameter. Delicious and flavorful, plums can be eaten fresh from the tree, raw or mixed in fruit salads, or used in desserts. They are also exquisite in clafoutis, cakes, crumbles, or pies, and as accompaniments to savory dishes with white meats (turkey, chicken, veal, etc.) or tagines. They are also perfect for making jams, compotes, juices, or preserved in syrup.

Plums are a light and balancing fruit. Low in calories, they are rich in potassium, calcium, and magnesium, with a significant iron content. Their content of vitamins C, B, E, and K, phenolic antioxidants, and fiber make plums a health asset. They are invigorating, energizing, and hydrating. Plums only keep for a few days at room temperature. However, they can be frozen after being washed, dried, and pitted, or preserved in jams or syrup.

In the Plum - Mirabelle category, the Anna Spath Prunus domestica is a recognized and appreciated variety for the taste quality of its fruits. Under good conditions, it is easy to grow, generous in fruit production, and resistant to diseases. Extremely popular, thanks to its fruits, the plum tree finds its rightful place in the garden for the enjoyment of young and old alike. With a wide range of varieties, it is easy to find the one that best suits one's desires.