Damson
Latin name
Prunus domestica subsp. insititia
Family
Rosaceae
Other names
Bullaces, wild plums, Prunus domestica ssp. agg
Flowering season
Early April
English distribution
It is found throughout the country, but the distribution is
rather patchy.
See the BSBI distribution map for Damson
Habitat
It is aturalised in hedges, edges of woods, copses and
scrub.
Description
Damsons are small trees or shrubs growing up to
8m or so.
Flowers are 15 to 25mm across, with 5 white petals,
numerous white anthers with cream-yellow anthers.
The style is cream-green and the stigma cream.
Leaves are oval.
Damson fruits are like small purple plums. They
ripen in late August and early September and are
used mainly to make jam, although in the past they
were a source of indigo-like dyes.
In the Lythe Valley, Cumbria, 'Damson Day' is held
annually in April and a range of damson-derived
products are sold, including damson gin and damsons
covered in chocolate.
Damsons are crosses between sloe (blackthorn) and
introduced sweet plums, Prunus domestica.
These crosses have occurred for centuries, so much
so, that the whole range of wild plums, damsons and
bullaces are given the overall latin name, Prunus
domestica ssp. agg.
Some refer to bullaces as being the fruits of wild
damsons.
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Damson trees, Lythe valley, Cumbria
Flower with stamens
Flower with style and capitate stigma
Damson fuits
Related Wild plum, Suffolk