Prunus domestica 'Regina Claudia' (D)

RHS Plant Profile
greengage 'Regina Claudia'
Plants for pollinators
Fruit Edible Trees

A variety of plum to around 6m in height with green foliage. Fragrant, pale pink flowers appear in early spring followed by rich, sweet yellow-green fruit in summer. Suitable for planting in the ground or containers. Pollination group C; self-sterile

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H5

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Rosaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Spreading branched
Genus
Prunus can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs with showy flowers in spring, and often good autumn foliage colour. Some have edible fruit in autumn, and a few species have ornamental bark
Name Status
Unresolved
Horticultural Group
Dessert cherries are sweet and juicy and are best eaten picked fresh and raw

How to Grow

Cultivation

Tolerant of a range of well-drained soils but prefers clay loam in a sunny, sheltered site. Suitable for all training forms. Keep a weed-free area of at least 60cm radius around trunk. Thin fruits if necessary. Irrigate in dry periods. Flowers early, so at risk from spring frosts. See how to grow: plums for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by chip budding or grafting onto a rootstock for fruit. The rootstock will largely determine the vigour of the tree

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Edible fruit
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

Prune regularly depending on how the tree is trained – see pruning plums. Train fan-trained trees in spring. Pruning established fans is carried out in early summer and after harvest

Pests

May be susceptible to plum aphid, red spider mite and winter moth caterpillar. The fruit can be damaged by plum moth caterpillars, wasps and birds

Diseases

May be susceptible to silver leaf, bacterial canker and blossom wilt. The fruit can be affected by brown rot. Protect flowers against late frost damage