Shiro Plum

Medium-sized vigorous hardy long-lived tree with upright-spreading habit, somewhat low growing and spreading with limited growth habit good for home gardens. Fast-growing tree, one of fastest growing and most prolific Japanese plums, doubling yield every year for first five years. Partially self-fertile but should be planted with another early-blooming Japanese plum for optimal cropping. Somewhat susceptible to brown rot but somewhat resistant to black knot.

Medium round yellow fruit with pink blush. Golden-yellow oval-shaped fruit, sometimes called "best of yellow plums." Luminous yellow to golden yellow skin ripening from green to bright yellow, thin tart skin. Semi-transparent firm juicy sweet yellow to amber flesh. Tart and juicy with mild sweet flavor. Crisp texture. Sweet and firm. Slightly conical in shape around smaller pit. Clingstone. Ripens mid-season, late July to early August. Fruit keeps longer than most plums, lasting two to four weeks.

Developed and introduced by Luther Burbank in 1899, introduced commercially same year. Burbank also developed Santa Rosa, Burbank, Beauty, and Wickson plums. Shiro popular variety in 1940s alongside Burbank's other creations.