Will a Creek Plum pollinate a plumcot?
Hi Michelle,
Welcome to the forum! Your question involves compatibility as well as the timing of blossom schedules. While most Plumcots can be pollinated by Asian plums, a lot depends on the genus and specific species of your creek plum as well as the plum variety used to breed your Plumcot. If by chance the two are from closely related varieties, then cross pollination compatibility is possible. Chances are your creek plum is one of many varieties of P americanna.
The other major factor is blossom timing. A plum flower is most receptive to pollination during its first days after the flower fully opens. If your creek plum is already open and releasing pollen during that critical period, you might be in luck! If not then some efforts to hand pollinate you Plumcot with pollen from your creek plum might answer your question.
If you know the origin of your Plumcot, you might check with the source nursery to determine the recommended varieties to cross pollinate it. Otherwise you will need to identify an Asian variety that blossoms at the same time as your Plumcot.
Without more information on the genus of your plants, that would establish possible compatibility, it’s difficult to give a better answer. If you graft, your best bet would be to add several Asian varieties with matching blossom schedules to your Plum cot. (Edited 4/25 for clarity.)
Best wishes
Dennis
Kent, Wa
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