Wickson Plums
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
This item was last sold on : 07/09/26
Description/Taste
Wickson plums vary in size, depending on growing conditions, and bear a distinct round to heart shape, often tapering to a blunt point on the non-stem end. The variety’s skin is thin, taut, smooth, and faintly glossy, sometimes covered in a powdery white bloom. This bloom is natural and can be easily wiped away by hand. Wickson plums ripen to shades of yellow-green, yellow, and yellow with red-pink tips. The skin features a shallow suture line extending the length of the fruit and will exhibit a gentle give when ripe. Underneath the surface, the golden-yellow flesh is firm, aqueous, fine-textured, and tender, with a crisp, succulent consistency. The flesh also envelops a small, central brown pit that is a clingstone type, meaning it tightly adheres and is difficult to remove. Wickson plums are known for their high sugar content and are sweet with little to no tartness.
Seasons/Availability
Wickson plums are available in the summer, typically from mid-to-late June through August. Each growing region will have varied availability.
Current Facts
Wickson plums, botanically classified as Prunus salicina, are a midseason variety belonging to the Rosaceae family. The cultivar was developed by well-known breeder Luther Burbank in California and was commercially released in the late 19th century. Wickson plums are a Japanese variety favored as an all-purpose fruit for their sweet flavor and juicy, firm flesh. The variety requires around 500 chilling hours and is primarily a specialty plum found in home gardens, rather than large-scale commercial production. Chefs and home cooks seek out Wickson plums for their distinct coloring, flavor, and texture, and the seasonal plums are utilized in a wide array of fresh and cooked culinary preparations.
Nutritional Value
Wickson plums have not been extensively studied for their nutritional properties. Plums, in general, are a source of fiber to support digestion and contain vitamins A, B, C, E, and K, which aid faster wound healing, strengthen the immune system, protect cells against free radical damage, and contribute to energy production. Plums also provide varying amounts of minerals, including calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc. These minerals help the body produce the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport in the bloodstream, assist in bone and tooth development, maintain fluid balance, and control nerve functions.
Applications
Wickson plums have a sweet, subtly tart flavor suited for fresh and cooked culinary preparations. The variety is often enjoyed out of hand as a snack to appreciate its authentic taste. Wickson plums are also sliced and tossed into green salads, mixed into fruit medleys, or used as a topping over oatmeal, parfaits, and ice cream. They are served on cheese boards or blended into juices and smoothies. In addition to fresh preparations, Wickson plums hold their shape well when heated and can be incorporated into desserts such as cakes, tarts, cobblers, crumbles, and pies. They can also be simmered into jellies, jams, compotes, and sauces. Try halving, grilling, and topping with creamy cheeses and honey for a savory-sweet side, or topping with ice cream for dessert. Wickson plums can also be poached with spices to create a flavorful dessert or roasted with meat in savory mains. Wickson plums pair well with herbs like mint, rosemary, and fennel, meats like poultry, pork, and lamb, and fruits such as blackberries, citrus, cherries, and nectarines. Fresh Wickson plums are ripened at room temperature. Once ripe, the fruits should be stored in the refrigerator for a few days to one week. They can also be canned, dried, or frozen for extended use.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Wickson plums were initially named Perfection by Luther Burbank before the variety’s name was changed to Wickson. The moniker Wickson was given to the plum in honor of Burbank’s friend, Edward J. Wickson, an American agriculturalist and professor at the University of California. Wickson is credited with being a central figure in California agriculture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, writing acclaimed agricultural texts, including “California Fruits and How to Grow Them.” He also helped establish the Citrus Experiment Station at Riverside and the University Farm at UC Davis and promoted field-based training and education. Wickson had a professional and personal relationship with Burbank, being one of Burbank’s earliest supporters. He visited Burbank’s experimental gardens in Santa Rosa in the late 19th century and went on to publicly support Burbank’s work. He also later wrote several books about Burbank in 1902 and 1915. Burbank named the plums after Wickson to show his gratitude and gratefulness for the agriculturalist’s unwavering support and to commemorate Wickson’s contributions to California agriculture.
Geography/History
Wickson plums are native to the United States and were created by Luther Burbank near Santa Rosa, California. Burbank is a central figure in the development of the California plum market and introduced over 113 plum varieties throughout his career. Burbank began plum breeding in California in 1878 by opening a nursery in Santa Rosa and experienced several trials before he established twelve Japanese plum seedlings on his property in 1885. He later purchased an 18-acre property in Sebastopol, just outside of Santa Rosa, and extensively bred new Japanese plum varieties, which were featured in his catalog, “New Creations in Fruits and Flowers,” in June 1893. Wickson plums were promoted in this catalog under their original name of Perfection. Wickson plums are a cross between Burbank plums, a Japanese variety, and Simon or Kelsey plums. The variety was commercially released in 1895, and by the 1910s and 1920s, Wickson plums had become one of the most important cultivars in California. Wickson's plums remained a commercially significant fruit for several decades, but they slowly faded from the spotlight, becoming a rarer specialty cultivar by the early 21st century. Today, Wickson plums are cultivated by a select number of growers and sold through local markets and distributors, mainly in the United States, with small quantities in Australia. They are also planted in home gardens.
