Elephant Heart Plum

Details

Elephant Heart Plum is a deciduous fruit tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. Valued for both its productivity and exceptional fruit quality, it is a reliable choice for home orchards and backyard gardens.

This tree requires regular seasonal care and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration:

• Large, heart-shaped fruit
• Extended harvest season
• Heavy bearing

Elephant Heart Plum is recommended for the following landscape applications:

• Edible Landscaping
• Home Orchards
• Backyard Fruit Trees

Features

Elephant Heart Plum is primarily grown for its edible fruit. The large, heart-shaped plums ripen from late August through September and feature sweet, juicy, richly flavored red flesh with a firm texture. The dark reddish-purple mottled skin adds visual appeal, while the long harvest window allows fruit to be picked over several weeks. Foliage remains green throughout the growing season, and spring flowers provide seasonal interest.

Elephant Heart Plum fruit is most often used in the following ways:

• Fresh Eating
• Desserts
• Preserves

Care

Planting & Growing

Elephant Heart Plum will grow to be about 15 to 20 feet tall at maturity, with a similar spread. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a moderate rate and is known for its hardiness and consistent productivity.

This tree does best in full sun and prefers well-drained soil. Regular watering is important during establishment and fruit development, though soil should not remain overly wet. Elephant Heart Plum requires approximately 500 chilling hours or fewer and performs best in USDA Zones 5–9. This variety is not self-fruitful and requires cross-pollination with Beauty Plum or Santa Rosa Plum for optimal fruit production. It is not native to North America.