Burgundy Plum Tree: Sweet Red-Fleshed Japanese Plum Guide

By the Garden Voila editorial team · Updated October 27, 2026 · How we verify

The Burgundy plum is a Japanese plum (Prunus salicina) with maroon to near-purple skin and sweet, deep red flesh that has little or no tartness. It is self-fruitful, needs only about 300 chill hours, grows as a narrow, upright, very productive tree and ripens over a long window from mid-July to mid-August in Central California, with fruit that holds well on the tree. Its mild, sweet flavor consistently scores high in taste tests, making it one of the best plums for eating fresh in mild-winter gardens.

Burgundy plum tree essentials

What is a Burgundy plum?

Burgundy is a modern Japanese plum valued by home gardeners for its flavor, compact habit and ease of care. The Dave Wilson Nursery variety page describes maroon skin, semi-freestone flesh, a sweet, mild flavor with little or no tartness, high taste-test scores, self-fruitfulness, a 300-hour chill requirement and a narrow, upright habit, with harvest listed from July 20 to August 8 and stretching from mid-July to mid-August in Central California.

Like other Japanese plums, Burgundy is round, juicy and best eaten fresh. It differs from the classic Santa Rosa mainly in its deep red flesh and its sweetness: Santa Rosa has a tart skin and tangy flesh, while Burgundy is sweet right through. See our overview of types of plum trees for how Japanese plums compare with European and hybrid types.

What does a Burgundy plum taste like?

Ripe Burgundy plums are sweet, mild and juicy, with a firm-tender texture and almost no sour tang, even in the skin. The deep red flesh looks striking when sliced. Because the fruit can hang on the tree for several weeks after coloring, its sugar keeps rising, and late-picked fruit is especially rich. People who find many plums too tart often prefer Burgundy.

Where does a Burgundy plum tree grow best?

With a chill requirement of about 300 hours, Burgundy is a good choice for mild-winter climates such as California, the Southwest and parts of the South, and it also grows in many temperate areas. Japanese plums bloom early, so in colder regions a late spring frost can take some of the crop. Burgundy is usually sold for zones 5 to 9, but it is most reliable in zones 6 to 9. Check your zone with the growing zone finder and your average last frost with the frost date tool.

Like all plums, it needs full sun, good air flow and well-drained soil. In the humid Southeast, choose varieties tested locally where possible, since California-bred plums can be prone to bacterial diseases there.

Is the Burgundy plum self-pollinating?

Yes. Burgundy is self-fruitful, so a single tree can produce a full crop, which makes it ideal for small gardens. Planting another Japanese plum that blooms at the same time, such as Santa Rosa, can increase fruit set further and extend the harvest season. European plums such as Italian will not help, because they are not cross-compatible with Japanese plums.

How big does a Burgundy plum tree get?

Burgundy’s narrow, upright habit is one of its main advantages. On standard or semi-dwarf rootstock it typically reaches about 10 to 15 feet tall but stays much narrower than most Japanese plums, which tend to sprawl. With summer pruning it can easily be kept at 8 to 10 feet, small enough to pick from the ground and to net against birds. Its slim shape also suits high-density backyard orchard plantings, where several trees are planted close together and kept small.

How do you plant a Burgundy plum tree?

1. Choose full sun with at least 6 to 8 hours of direct light and shelter from strong wind.
2. Check drainage. Dig a test hole and fill it with water; if it has not drained within a day, plant on a raised mound.
3. Plant while dormant in winter or early spring. Use the planting hole size calculator for the hole, set the graft union 2 to 4 inches above the soil and backfill with native soil.
4. Water deeply right after planting to settle the soil.
5. Head back bare-root trees to about 18 to 24 inches to encourage low branches.
6. Mulch 2 to 4 inches deep in a wide ring, keeping mulch off the trunk; the mulch calculator tells you how much to buy.

How do you water and fertilize a Burgundy plum?

Water young trees about twice a week during the first summer, then deeply every week or two during dry weather. The Utah State University Extension plum guide recommends watering established trees deeply enough to wet the soil 1 to 2 feet down and keeping water off the leaves where possible. Steady moisture during fruit growth prevents splitting.

USU advises not fertilizing newly planted plums in their first year and feeding only when shoot growth falls below about 8 to 10 inches a year on older trees. Excess nitrogen produces soft growth and lower-quality fruit. Our fruit tree fertilizer guide and the garden fertilizer calculator help you get rates right.

How do you prune a Burgundy plum tree?

Japanese plums are vigorous and need more pruning than European plums. Because Burgundy grows upright, many growers train it to an open center with three or four scaffolds, or to a narrow central leader that matches its natural shape. Each year:

• Remove dead, damaged and diseased wood first.
• Thin out crowded and crossing shoots so light reaches the interior.
• Cut back the tallest upright shoots to an outward-facing branch to control height.
• Remove root suckers and water sprouts.

Do structural pruning in late winter and height control in summer, right after harvest. For step-by-step instructions see how to prune a plum tree; for tool choice, see our guide to loppers.

Do Burgundy plums need thinning?

Yes. Burgundy is very productive and often sets more fruit than it can size well. About four to six weeks after bloom, thin plums to roughly 4 to 6 inches apart along the branches. Thinning increases fruit size and sweetness, reduces brown rot by keeping fruit from touching and protects the upright branches from bending or breaking.

When are Burgundy plums ready to pick?

Burgundy colors to deep maroon before it is fully ripe, so do not judge by color alone. A ripe plum:

• Feels slightly soft when squeezed gently.
• Has a sweet aroma.
• Comes off the spur with a light twist.
• Tastes sweet with no hard, starchy texture.

One of Burgundy’s best traits is that ripe fruit holds on the tree in good condition for an extended period, so you can pick over several weeks rather than all at once. Refrigerate picked fruit and eat it within about two weeks.

How do you use Burgundy plums?

• Fresh eating: The best use, thanks to the sweet, low-acid flavor.
• Salads and cheese boards: The red flesh adds color.
• Jam and sauces: Make deep red preserves; add lemon juice to balance the sweetness.
• Freezing: Halve, pit and freeze on a tray before bagging.
• Baking: Good in crisps and galettes; the semi-freestone pit is fairly easy to remove.

What pests and diseases affect Burgundy plums?

For netting, the garden netting calculator sizes it for your tree, and the pest identifier helps with insects you do not recognize.

Burgundy vs other popular plums

Can you grow a Burgundy plum in a container?

Burgundy’s narrow habit makes it one of the better plums for large pots. Use a container of at least 15 to 20 gallons, a fast-draining mix and a tree on semi-dwarf or dwarfing rootstock. Water whenever the top couple of inches of mix are dry and feed lightly in spring. Prune in summer to keep it around 6 to 8 feet. Protect potted roots from freezing in cold winters. The container garden planner helps you plan a patio orchard.

How long until a Burgundy plum tree fruits?

Japanese plums bear early. Grafted Burgundy trees often produce a few plums in their second or third year and reach good crops by about the fourth or fifth year. For the strongest long-term tree, remove most fruit in the first year so energy goes into roots and branches. Regular pruning, thinning and steady water keep yields consistent.

Burgundy plum care calendar

What are red-fleshed plums?

Red-fleshed plums, sometimes called blood plums, are Japanese plums whose flesh is red or purple-red right through rather than yellow or amber. Burgundy, ‘Satsuma’, ‘Methley’ and ‘Elephant Heart’ are well-known examples. The red color comes from anthocyanins, the same pigments found in cherries and blueberries. Red-fleshed plums make vividly colored jams and sauces and tend to be sweet with low acidity. Yellow-fleshed plums such as ‘Shiro’ and amber-fleshed ones such as Santa Rosa usually taste brighter and tangier.

Can you ripen Burgundy plums off the tree?

Partly. Plums picked when they have full color but are still firm will soften and become juicier on the counter in a day or two. They will not gain much sugar, so tree-ripened fruit always tastes best. Because Burgundy holds well on the tree, there is rarely a reason to pick early, except to beat birds or an incoming storm. To speed softening, place firm plums in a paper bag at room temperature and check them daily, then refrigerate once they give slightly to gentle pressure.

Are plums healthy?

Plums are low in calories and provide fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium and antioxidant pigments, especially in red-fleshed varieties such as Burgundy. Nutrient values for fresh and dried plums are listed in the USDA’s FoodData Central database. Eating plums with the skin on gives you the most fiber and pigment.

How do you choose a good Burgundy plum tree?

Buy a bare-root or container tree from a nursery that lists the rootstock and chill requirement. In heavy or wet soils, a tree on ‘Marianna’ rootstock is often a better choice than one on myrobalan; in small gardens, a semi-dwarf rootstock keeps the tree manageable. Look for a straight trunk with no cracks, cankers or oozing gum, a clean graft union and healthy buds or roots. Plant it as soon as possible after purchase, and keep bare roots moist and shaded until then.

Related reading: cherry plum trees, which include several purple-leaved ornamental forms, and dwarf apricot trees.

You’ll find related varieties, pruning calendars and pest guides in the fruit tree hub.

Frequently asked questions

Last reviewed October 2026. Key references: Dave Wilson Nursery, Burgundy Plum; Utah State University Extension, Plums in the Home Garden; University of Georgia Extension, Home Garden Plums.