Pipestone Plum
- Taste: sweet, juicy yellow flesh with a pleasant tart snap—skin peels easily to reveal a freestone interior.
- Skin & Flesh Color: glossy red skin blushed with gold over firm, golden-yellow flesh.
- Harvest Season: mid- to late-season (late August into early September).
- Hardiness & Climate: thrives in USDA Zones 3–7; withstands temperatures down to -40 °F (reports up to -50 °F); performs best in full sun and well-drained soil.
- Disease Resistance: exceptional winter hardiness; moderate susceptibility to brown rot in humid conditions—good air circulation and minimal spray keep it clean.
- Pollination: requires cross-pollination from another American plum variety (for example, Toka, Superior, or Brookred).
- Best Uses: fresh eating, jams, jellies, freezing, and baking—versatile kitchen plum with reliable slip skin.
- Tree Habit & Size: vigorous and productive semi-dwarf form; typically 12–15 ft tall with an 8–10 ft spread; heavy crops as early as year.
- Origin & History: released by the University of Minnesota in 1942 as a Native American × European plum hybrid bred for northern cold tolerance.
