Davidson's plum
Davidsonia jerseyana
Very sour, deep purple plums borne straight off the trunk; superb in jam and sauces.
Hardiness: zones 10 to 11
Light: part shade
Size: about 20 ft tall, 8 ft wide
Harvest: July to September
From: NE New South Wales and Queensland
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food.
Native to: Australia. Hardy in zones 10 to 11.
The story
Davidson's plum grows in the rainforests of the Queensland and New South Wales border, where the Bundjalung ate the sour fruit and used the tree; its intense purple pulp is now the base of jams and sauces in Australian bush-food cooking.
Planting
Part shade, rich, moist, drained soil, humidity, and a frost-free spot; an understory tree to 20 feet. Plant a seedling in a sheltered place.
Growing
Keep moist and mulched; it dislikes drought and wind. No pruning needed. It fruits on the trunk.
Harvest and use
Fruit ripens dark purple in autumn and drops; gather from the ground. Too sour fresh, superb as jam, sauce and wine.
What to watch for
Drought, frost, and the irritating hairs on the leaves.
See if Davidson's plum fits your yard
Free planner: enter your ZIP for frost dates, climate fit and a sowing calendar. No account, no ads, no tracking cookies.
More tropical and subtropical food plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home