Prunus domestica Royale de Tours - Common plum

Prunus domestica 'Royale de Tours' is a Plum tree that will delight enthusiasts of old varieties. This medium-sized tree, very floriferous and productive, produces large purple-red plums with hints of yellow. Their thin skin protects the yellow-green, juicy and very sweet flesh. Hardy and easy to cultivate, this plum tree will require another pollinator nearby to bear fruit well.

The Prunus genus is part of the vast family of Rosaceae, which houses the vast majority of our fruit trees (Apple trees, Apricot trees, Cherry trees...), small fruits (Blackberries, Raspberries, Strawberries), many wild plants from the countryside and forests, as well as numerous ornamental plants, herbaceous (Lamb's quarters, or Acaena) or woody (Physocarpus...). There are over 300 species of Prunus, including trees and bushes, wild, fruit-bearing or ornamental.
The Prunus domestica that grows spontaneously in Europe originated from Anatolia and the Caucasus, where it grows up to 1300 m. Cultivated for over 2000 years in Western Asia, particularly in Damascus, it may have resulted from cross-breeding between the Sloe (P. spinosa) and the Myrobalan Plum (P. cerasifera). In the wild, it can reach heights of 8 to 10 m and there are several hundred cultivated varieties known.
'Royale de Tours' is a variety of unknown origin, cultivated since at least 1736. With quite vigorous growth, the tree has a spreading habit, reaching approximately 6 m in height and 5 m in spread. The medium to dark green leaves are wide elliptical, about one third longer than they are wide. The leaf has quite deep teeth. The flowering is very abundant and occurs around the end of March, depending on the region. This flowering is quite sensitive to late frosts, which is why it is advisable to shelter this tree from cold winds, for example by planting it against a well-exposed stone wall in the sun. The simple white flowers with five petals are honey-bearing. As this variety is not sufficiently self-fertile, it is necessary to plant another variety nearby, such as 'Reine Claude dorée' or 'Reine Claude d'Althan' to ensure good fertilisation. Once this is secured, the fruit set rate (that is to say the transformation of the ovary into fruit) is excellent. This results in large, rounded plums, with a well-marked albeit shallow central furrow. The thin epidermis is light red on the shaded side and purplish red on the sunny side, with very fine yellow speckles giving a slightly grainy appearance. The flesh is yellow, slightly greenish, juicy and sweet, truly succulent to taste. The plums reach ripeness in late July and August, and it is preferable to pick them quite quickly to preserve their taste qualities.

The 'Royale de Tours' Plum tree, reminiscent of days gone by, could serve as the starting point for a small heritage orchard, where you can associate it with other old varieties. The Apple tree 'Reinette Clochard' would be a good companion, offering you beautiful yellow-dominant apples with sweet and tangy flesh, provided you plant a pollinator nearby. Another fruit tree from the late 18th century, the famous Pear tree 'William's Bon Chrétien' will also be part of the mix, along with 'Louise Bonne d'Avranche', slightly older and a bit less known, with fine and juicy flesh. And to add a touch of originality, plant a Medlar (Mespilus germanica), a wild fruit tree appreciated in the past and somewhat fallen out of favour, but which will fit well with the theme of your orchard.