🌳 LEE RED AMERICAN HYBRID PLUM TREE

🔹 Identification

• Botanical name: Prunus (plum hybrid).

• Cultivar name: ‘Lee Red’

• Origin: Barrhead, Alberta, Canada.

• Breeder: Lloyd Lee.

• Type: American hybrid plum tree.

• Special feature: Selected for the cold climates of the Canadian Prairies.

   

🌳 Tree

• Vigour: Strong.

• Habit: Spreading.

• Height: About 4 m.

• Spread: About 3 m.

• Growth: Fast.

• Flowering: Spring.

• Production: Abundant and generous.

• Hardiness: Zone 3

   

🍑 Fruit

• Size: Medium, about 4 cm in diameter.

• Colour: Crimson to purplish red.

• Flesh: Orange to orange-red.

• Texture: Firm and very juicy.

• Flavour: Very sweet, with a pronounced plum flavour.

• Stone: Semi-clingstone according to some descriptions.

• Shape: Rounded to slightly heart-shaped.

📅 Harvest and storage

• Harvest: Late July to early August.

• Ripening: Very early.

• Storage: Short; refrigerate.

• Uses: Fresh eating, jams, jellies and processing.

   

🌸 Pollination

• Self-fertility: Not self-fertile.

• Cross-pollination is necessary.

• Recommended pollinizers:

  • Canada plum (Prunus nigra).

  • American plum (Prunus americana).

• Other American hybrids are not automatically compatible.

⚠️ American plum and Canada plum are preferred partners. Compatibility and overlap in flowering must be verified.

🌱 Growing conditions

• Exposure: Full sun.

• Soil: Fertile and well drained.

• Watering: Regular during establishment.

• Pruning: Annually, to maintain good structure.

• Spacing: About 3 to 4 metres.

• Special feature: A vigorous tree suited to regions with harsh winters.

⭐ Highlights

• Excellent winter hardiness.

• Very early harvest.

• Attractive purplish-red fruit.

• Very sweet, juicy orange flesh.

• Generous production.

• A Canadian selection adapted to cold climates.

⚠️ Points to consider

• Requires a compatible pollinizer.

• Medium-sized fruit.

• Relatively short storage life.

• Vigorous growth requires space.

🌿 Garden interest

Lee Red is an exceptionally hardy Canadian hybrid plum tree, known for its very early harvest and purplish-red fruit with sweet, juicy orange flesh. Its exceptional hardiness and generous production make it an interesting variety for orchards in regions with harsh winters.