Mirabelle (Prunus) Golden Sphere 12L

Golden Sphere is a charming, easy-to-grow mirabelle-type cherry plum that lives up to its name. White spring blossom, popular with bees and other pollinators, is followed in mid-August by generous crops of large, perfectly round golden-yellow fruits with an almost translucent glow. They have a juicy, jammy flavour with a refreshing hint of sharpness, and they're genuinely dual-purpose: delicious eaten fresh, and even better in jams, pies, tarts and preserves. They also keep unusually well in the fridge, so you can enjoy the harvest for longer.

Golden Sphere forms a neat, manageable tree of around 2.5–4m, which suits most gardens. It is very hardy, grows on almost any well-drained soil, including clay and chalk, and copes with more exposed sites than many plums. It is partly self-fertile, so it will produce some fruit on its own, but it crops far more heavily with another early-flowering plum or damson nearby. Mirabelle Countess makes an ideal partner. Plant in full sun, avoid frost pockets to protect the early blossom, and water well during dry spells while the tree establishes. Prune lightly in summer to keep an open shape and reduce the risk of silver leaf and bacterial canker. Fully hardy (RHS H6). The fruit is delicious, but the stones and leaves shouldn't be eaten, so keep those out of reach of children and pets.

Supplied in a 12-litre pot.

Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch.

Available from Pengelly Garden Centre.