Greengage ‘Reine Claude Verte’

‘Reine Claude Verte’ is the original greengage, the old French variety that gave the whole group its name. Small round fruits ripen yellow-green tinged with gold, with honey-sweet, amber-tinted juicy flesh that’s widely considered among the finest flavoured plums you can grow.

Pretty white blossom covers the tree in April. Partially self-fertile, so a single tree will crop, though heavier crops come with a compatible pollination partner. Fruits ripen in late August into early September.

Plant in full sun in fertile, moist but well-drained soil, ideally sheltered from late frosts. Prune in midsummer only, to avoid silver leaf.

A proper heritage fruit tree for a kitchen garden, an orchard, or as a trained fan on a sunny wall.