Emerald Beaut Plum

Prunus salicina 'Emerald Beaut'

A stunning green-skinned plum that stays green even when fully ripe, making it unique among stone fruits. This Japanese variety produces large, incredibly sweet fruit with amber flesh that rivals the best dessert plums. The vigorous tree is self-fertile and produces heavy crops, making it an excellent choice for home orchards seeking something different.

Sun

Fruits are edible raw

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Zones

5–8

USDA hardiness

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Height

20-33 feet

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Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Transplant

Harvest

Transplant

Harvest

Showing dates for Emerald Beaut Plum in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 fruit-tree →

Zone Map

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Emerald Beaut Plum · Zones 5–8

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-15 feet apart

SoilWell-drained loamy soil, adaptable to various soil types

pH6.0-7.5

WaterRegular deep watering, 1-2 inches per week

SeasonDeciduous fruit tree

FlavorVery sweet with rich, complex flavor and firm texture

ColorGreen skin with amber-yellow flesh

SizeLarge, 2.5-3 inches diameter

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 5	—	May – July	—	June – October
Zone 6	—	May – July	—	June – October
Zone 7	—	May – June	—	June – October
Zone 8	—	April – June	—	June – November

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Fruits are edible raw or cooked. Fruit can be candied or made into a liqueur, pies, preserves or dried. Soil: Loam (Silt). Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 33 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12-24 feet, 24-60 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Propagation: Seed, Stem Cutting. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

The fruit is a red to purple juicy drupe 1.5 to 3 in. in diameter with yellow-pink flesh. Harvested in the summer

Color: Gold/Yellow, Pink. Type: Drupe. Length: 1-3 inches. Width: 1-3 inches.

Garden value: Edible

Harvest time: Summer

Bloom time: Spring

Edibility: Fruits are edible raw or cooked. Fruit can be candied or made into a liqueur, pies, preserves or dried

Storage & Preservation

Fresh Emerald Beauty plums store exceptionally well due to their firm texture. Keep unripe fruit at room temperature for 2-3 days to complete ripening. Once ripe, refrigerate immediately in the crisper drawer where they'll maintain quality for 1-2 weeks at 32-35°F with high humidity.

For long-term storage, these plums excel at dehydrating due to their low water content and concentrated sugars. Halve and pit before dehydrating at 135°F for 18-24 hours. The result rivals commercial dried plums in sweetness and texture.

Freezing works well for cooking applications—pit and quarter fruits before freezing in airtight containers. They'll keep 8-10 months frozen. The high sugar content also makes them ideal for jams and preserves, requiring less added sugar than most plum varieties. Their firm texture holds up beautifully in baked goods even after freezing.

History & Origin

Origin: Russia, China, Vietnam, Taiwan

Advantages

+Attracts: Butterflies, Pollinators
+Wildlife value: This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north.
+Edible: Fruits are edible raw or cooked. Fruit can be candied or made into a liqueur, pies, preserves or dried

Companion Plants

Plant Together

Chives

Repels aphids and Japanese beetles while improving soil with sulfur compounds

Marigolds

Deters nematodes and aphids, attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs

Comfrey

Deep roots bring nutrients to surface, leaves provide potassium-rich mulch

Lavender

Repels moths and ants, attracts pollinators and beneficial predatory insects

Nasturtiums

Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, deters ants

Clover

Fixes nitrogen in soil, provides living mulch, attracts beneficial insects

Tansy

Repels ants, mice, and flying insects that may damage fruit

Garlic

Deters borers, aphids, and fungal diseases through sulfur compounds

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill stone fruit trees

Fennel

Allelopathic properties inhibit growth of most nearby plants including fruit trees

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic compounds that suppress growth of other plants

Nutrition Facts

Calories

46kcal(2%)

Protein

0.7g(1%)

Fiber

1.4g(5%)

Carbs

11.4g(4%)

Fat

0.28g(0%)

Vitamin C

9.5mg(11%)

Vitamin A

17mcg(2%)

Vitamin K

6.4mcg(5%)

Iron

0.17mg(1%)

Calcium

6mg(0%)

Potassium

157mg(3%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #169949)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Resistance

Good disease resistance, some tolerance to brown rot

Common Pests

Plum curculio, oriental fruit moth, aphids, scale

Diseases

Brown rot, black knot, bacterial spot

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you know when Emerald Beauty plums are ripe if they stay green?▼

Focus on firmness rather than color—ripe Emerald Beauty plums yield slightly to gentle pressure at the stem end and develop a subtle yellowish undertone. The twist test works best: ripe fruit separates easily from the branch with gentle upward pressure. Unripe plums feel rock-hard and resist removal.

Can you grow Emerald Beauty plum trees in containers?▼

Yes, but choose a large container (minimum 20 gallons) and select dwarf rootstock if available. Container trees require more frequent watering and annual fertilizing. Expect smaller harvests and plan to repot every 3-4 years. The vigorous growth habit makes this variety more challenging in containers than naturally compact varieties.

Is Emerald Beauty plum good for beginners?▼

Absolutely—it's rated as easy to grow with good disease resistance and self-fertility. The main challenge for beginners is determining harvest timing due to the green skin, but the twist test makes this manageable. The vigorous growth and heavy production make it forgiving of minor care mistakes.

What does Emerald Beauty plum taste like compared to regular plums?▼

Emerald Beauty offers exceptional sweetness with complex flavor notes that rival premium dessert plums. The amber flesh is firmer and less watery than many purple varieties, with concentrated sugar content. Think of it as intensely sweet with subtle honey undertones and a satisfying, meaty texture that holds up well fresh or cooked.

When should I plant Emerald Beauty plum trees?▼

Plant bare-root trees in late winter while dormant (February-March in most zones), or container trees in early spring after the last frost date. In zones 8-9, you can also plant in fall, giving roots time to establish before the growing season. Avoid planting during active growth periods or when fruit is developing.

How long does it take Emerald Beauty plum to produce fruit?▼

Expect first fruit production in 2-4 years depending on tree age at planting. Bare-root trees typically fruit in year 3-4, while larger container specimens may produce small crops in year 2. Full production capacity develops by years 5-6, when mature trees can yield 40-60 pounds annually.