In the shops much is simply called "plum", yet behind that sits a whole family with very different character. Anyone planting in the garden should know who they are dealing with: for the classic plum cake you need a true Zwetschge, for nibbling off the tree perhaps rather a sweet greengage.
Botanically all four are subspecies of the plum, Prunus domestica. The difference lies in shape, freestone quality, ripening time and flavour. This article sorts out who is who, so you plant the right fruit for your purpose.
Two keys: shape and freestone
You spot the relationship fastest by two features. The shape: elongated and slim is the Zwetschge, round are plum, mirabelle and greengage. And the freestone quality: on the Zwetschge the flesh comes cleanly off the stone, on many true plums it clings fast.
Colour and size add to it: mirabelles are small and golden-yellow, greengages medium and green to yellow, Zwetschgen blue-violet with a pale bloom. Know these features and you place almost any fruit at the market stall correctly.
Who is who?
The four in portrait
- Zwetschge
Elongated, blue-violet, firm flesh, cleanly freestone. The classic baking fruit for cake, purée and drying. Ripens late, often from September.
- Plum
Rounder and usually juicier than the Zwetschge, the flesh often clings to the stone. Ideal for eating fresh. It comes in many colours from yellow to dark red.
- Mirabelle
Small, round, golden-yellow, very sweet and aromatic. Perfect for jam, compote and schnapps. Ripens in high summer, often as early as August.
- Greengage
Round, green to yellow, with thin skin and honey-sweet flesh. The gourmet fruit for eating fresh, a little more demanding to grow.
A harvest from high summer into autumn
If you have room for several trees, or have several varieties grafted onto one tree, you can stretch the harvest. Early mirabelles and plums begin in July, the main Zwetschgen follow in September, and late varieties reach into October. That gives you fresh fruit over weeks instead of a single glut.
Elongated and freestone, the Zwetschge is for baking; round and sweet, plum, mirabelle and greengage are for nibbling. For both, plant one tree of each.
The core rule on the plum family
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Zwetschge and a plum?
The Zwetschge is elongated, firm-fleshed and cleanly freestone, ideal for baking. The plum is rounder, juicier and the flesh often clings to the stone, better for eating fresh. Botanically both are the same species.
Which fruit is best for plum cake?
A true Zwetschge, because the stone comes away easily and the firm flesh does not collapse when baked. Well-known varieties are the 'Hauszwetschge' and earlier types such as 'Cacaks Schöne'.
Are mirabelles and greengages the same?
No. Mirabelles are small, golden-yellow and very sweet; greengages are larger, round and green to yellow with a fine, honey-sweet aroma. Both are subspecies of the plum but differ in size and flavour.
When are Zwetschgen and plums ripe?
Depending on the variety, from high summer to autumn, roughly weeks 28 to 40. Early mirabelles and plums start in July, the main Zwetschgen ripen in September, late varieties into October.
Do plums need a pollinator?
Many varieties are self-fertile, including the 'Hauszwetschge', and bear alone. Others reward a second variety nearby with markedly more fruit. When in doubt, check the variety label.
