Plant Details

Prunus insititia

Damson

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Common names

25 names · 20 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (19)
Dutch
  • kroosjes[1]
  • Mirabel
  • Wilde pruim
French
  • Prunellier
Bulgarian
  • Трънкослива[1]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 乌荆子李[1]
Czech
  • slivoň obecná[1]
Danish
Estonian
  • damaskuse ploomipuu[1]
  • kreegipuu[1]
Finnish
  • kriikunapuu[1]
German
  • Hafer-Pflaume[1]
Hungarian
  • kökényszilva[1]
Polish
  • Śliwa domowa lubaszka[1]
Portuguese
  • Cagoiceiro[1]
Russian
  • Слива терновая[1]
  • Тернослива[1]
Slovak
  • slivka domáca guľatoplodá[1]
Spanish
  • Endrino mayor[1]
Swedish
Turkish
  • Mürdüm Eriği[1]
Ukrainian
  • Тернослива[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Prunus insititia — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Cagoiceiro — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.
  • damaskuse ploomipuu — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.
  • slivoň obecná — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.
  • kreegipuu — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.
  • slivka domáca guľatoplodá — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.
  • krikon — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.
  • Damson — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.
  • Kroosjes — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.
  • kriikunapuu — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.
  • Трънкослива — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.
  • prunyoner — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.
  • bullace — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.
  • kökényszilva — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.
  • Hafer-Pflaume — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.
  • Kræge — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.
  • 乌荆子李 — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.
  • Endrino mayor — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.
  • Śliwa domowa lubaszka — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.
  • Тернослива — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.
  • Тернослива — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.
  • Слива терновая — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.
  • Mürdüm Eriği — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 204393; Prunus insititia.

General information

Scientific name: Prunus insititia
Accepted name (Kew): Prunus insititia L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [4]
Botanical family: Rosaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Prunus (WCVP v16).

Sources [4]
Also known as: Damson
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 6.00 m
Spread: 5.00 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5-9
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit flesh

Fruit flesh only. Remove seeds or stones; do not chew or eat the kernels.

Sources [1] [3]
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Dye, Hedge, Windbreak

Description

Prunus insititia, commonly called damson, is a deciduous fruit tree. Its ripe fruits are tart and are used for cooking and preserves. Do not eat the kernels within the stones.

Sources [1] [2] [3]

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/08
Harvest ends: 15/10

Crown

Crown shape: Broad ovoid
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Horticultural Society How to grow damsons
    Supports: DescriptionEdible parts
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Growing guide; choosing varieties, planting, harvesting and storing sections as applicable
    • Edible parts: Growing guide; choosing varieties, planting, harvesting and storing sections as applicable

    Source checked on .

  2. Royal Horticultural Society Prunus insititia (F) | damson
    Supports: Description
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Foliage; Cultivation; Potentially harmful, where applicable

    Source checked on .

  3. Canadian Food Inspection Agency Natural toxins in fresh fruit and vegetables
    Supports: DescriptionEdible parts
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Apricot kernels and seeds of apples and pears; stone-fruit kernels
    • Edible parts: Apricot kernels and seeds of apples and pears; stone-fruit kernels

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 343710; name ID 2958711; Prunus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 842883; name ID 2960005; Prunus insititia L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.