Facts about Plums
The plum is a tree, much like the peach but more erect growing. In
general, European plums are bigger and more erect compared to
Japanese plums. The leaves of the plum are elliptic or ovate with
obtuse or acute tips, short petioles and also crenulated margins.
Japanese plum trees feature rougher bark and more flowers compared
to the European plums. The plant are also stronger, more disease
resistant, and more vigorous than the European plums.
The flowers of plums are very much the same in morphology to the
peach, but smaller, white in color, with longer pedicels. In nature, European
plums bloom later than the Japanese plums, thereby less frost
The plum fruit is a drupe, oval in the European varieties and conical
to round in the Japanese varieties. Bloom is normally found on glabrous surface. Plums need 2 1/2 to 6 months to grow fruit, with
the Japanese plums ripening in shorter periods (around 3 months).
Thinning is important for proper development for the Japanese
varieties, but not at all times needed for the European varieties,
especially prunes, as they are usually not as floriferous, plus the
fruit set is normally lighter.
Health Benefits of
- The tasty, fleshy, succulent plum fruit is low in calories with no
saturated fats. It has many health benefits, vitamins and minerals.
- Some health benefiting compounds found in plums, for example dietary fiber,
isatin and sorbitol can help normalize the functions of the
digestive tract and thus employed to treat constipation problems.
- Fresh plums are rich in vitamin C, which is a strong natural
antioxidant. Intake of foods high in vitamin C aids body build
defence against contagious agents, prevent inflammation and scavenge
damaging free radicals.
- The plum, specifically the yellow Mirabelle type, is abundant with
beta carotene and vitamin A. Vitamin A is important for good
eyesight. It is essential for keeping healthy mucus membranes and
good skin. Eating of fresh fruits containing vitamin A helps protect
from oral cavity and lung cancers.
- On top of the health benefits mentioned above, the plum contains
flavonoid polyphenolic antioxidants like lutein,
zeaxanthin and cryptoxanthin in substantial amounts. All these
compounds help function as scavengers to fight reactive oxygen
species and free radicals that cause aging and many disease process.
Zeaxanthin is an essential carotenoid assimilated into the retinal
macula lutea and provide antioxidant and light-filtering functions.
- Plums are a good source of minerals such as iron, potassium and
fluoride. Iron is needed for formation of red blood cells. Potassium
in an essential element of cell and fluids in the body that helps
manage heartbeat and blood pressure levels.
- The fruit is abundant with B-complex vitamins like niacin,
pantothenic acid and vitamin B6. These vitamins are serving as
cofactors to aid our body metabolize carbohydrates, fats and
- Additionally, they supply around 5% RDA amounts of vitamin
K that is important for blood clotting and preventing Alzheimer's
Nutrients and Calories of Plums and
value per 100 g Plums
||192 kJ (46 kcal)
value per 100 g Prunes
||1,006 kJ (240 kcal)
How to Choose and Buy Plums?
- Plums can be found throughout the year but those with the best
quality are usually seen between May and September.
- Pick plums with vibrant color while in the store and those still
contain a bit of whitish bloom, suggesting that they haven't yet
been over handled. Steer clear of those that are soft, with cuts and
- Ripen plums give to slight pressure and have sweet fragrance.
How to Store Plums?
- Slightly hard plums can be stored at normal room temperature until
- Ripe fruit may be put in the fridge but needs to be
bring to room temperature prior to consumption to enjoy the vibrant flavor.
- You can store prunes at room temperature for couple of days.
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