Northern Velvet Plum (Prunus × ‘Northern Velvet’)

Northern Velvet Plum (Prunus × ‘Northern Velvet’) is a hardy ornamental fruit tree prized for its sweet dark purple plums, fragrant spring blossoms, and exceptional Prairie cold tolerance. This productive plum variety produces medium-sized deep purple fruit with juicy flavourful flesh that is excellent for fresh eating, preserves, baking, and home fruit production.

In spring, clusters of fragrant white blossoms cover the branches and attract bees and pollinators while creating a beautiful ornamental display in the landscape. The lush green foliage provides attractive summer texture before developing soft golden autumn colour later in the season. Its upright rounded growth habit makes it an excellent addition to backyard orchards, edible landscapes, and shelterbelt plantings.

Northern Velvet Plum is especially valued for its reliable fruit production and strong winter hardiness in colder Canadian climates. The richly coloured fruit ripens in late summer and offers excellent flavour for both fresh use and culinary applications. For best pollination and fruit production, plant alongside another compatible plum variety with a similar bloom time.

In Alberta, Northern Velvet Plum performs best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil and moderate watering during establishment and fruit development. Prairie summers encourage strong fruit ripening while cold winters support healthy dormancy and flowering cycles.