Imperial Epineuse is a French prune plum that has earned its place as a flavor standard at the English National Fruit Trials, a remarkable distinction in the world of stone fruits. The medium-to-large plums develop a dusky burgundy-purple skin with clear amber flesh when fully ripe, offering a dense, silky texture and fabulous flavor that sets it apart from many other European plums. Hardy in zones 5 through 9, this upright-growing tree reaches about 12 feet at maturity and blooms in August, making it suitable for heritage fruit gardens and orchardists seeking a plum with genuine distinction. You'll need a different European plum variety nearby for pollination, but the payoff is fruit that tastes as good as any prune plum grown.
Full Sun
Moderate
5-9
144in H x ?in W
—
High
Hover over chart points for details
The English National Fruit Trials selected Imperial Epineuse as their standard for judging prune plum flavor, a recognition that speaks to the quality of its taste. The fruit ripens with remarkable character: dusky burgundy skin gives way to clear amber flesh with a dense yet succulent texture that feels luxurious on the palate. This variety grows as an attractive upright tree rather than a broad spreader, making it easier to manage in home orchards without sacrificing productivity.
Imperial Epineuse serves beautifully as a fresh eating plum when perfectly ripe, the dense amber flesh and silky texture making it exceptional for eating out of hand. The variety also excels in preserves, jams, and the traditional dried prune preparations that have made European plums famous for centuries. Its flavor profile and texture make it equally valuable for baking and cooking applications where a prune plum's depth and sweetness enhance the final dish.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Bare-root trees should be planted in early spring while still dormant. Container-grown trees can be planted spring through early fall, though spring planting gives the best establishment. Dig a hole slightly wider than the root ball and at the same depth the tree was growing in its nursery pot or field row. Backfill with amended soil and water thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots.
Harvest when the plums have developed their full dusky burgundy-purple color and the flesh yields slightly to gentle pressure. The fruit should feel dense yet give a little when squeezed around the sides. Pick the plums when they reach medium to large size and the amber flesh is visible just under the skin where any imperfections allow you to see inside. Late August typically marks the start of ripening, though exact timing depends on your zone and season. Plums will continue to ripen and sweeten for several days after picking if left at room temperature, so you can harvest slightly early if needed.
Imperial Epineuse responds well to heading and thinning cuts that maintain its naturally upright growth form while opening the canopy to light and air. Prune in late winter while the tree is dormant, removing any crossed branches, inward-growing limbs, and dead wood. Thin fruit in early summer if setting is exceptionally heavy, removing smaller plums to encourage larger, higher-quality fruit on remaining branches. The tree's upright habit means less aggressive spreading than many plum varieties, so focus on maintaining an open center structure rather than aggressive size reduction.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Imperial Epineuse represents a lineage of French prune plum development, cultivated specifically for the superior flavor and processing qualities that European prune plums are known for. Its selection as the flavor standard at the prestigious English National Fruit Trials marks a turning point in how prune plum quality is evaluated and compared. The variety embodies the Old World tradition of identifying and preserving superior fruiting clones within the broader Prunus domestica species, a practice that European orchardists refined over centuries.”