Prunus 'Climax' facts for kids

The Climax plum is a special type of plum called a cultivar. It was first introduced in 1899 by a famous plant breeder named Luther Burbank.

Luther Burbank spent a lot of time mixing two different kinds of plums. These were the apricot plum (also known as Prunus simonii) and the Japanese plum (called Prunus salicina). He created many new types of plums from these mixes. The 'Climax' plum was very important for farmers in California who grew and sold fruit.

What is the 'Climax' Plum?

The 'Climax' plum tree does not grow as many plums as some other types. However, its fruit is very large and shaped like a heart.

What Does the Fruit Look Like?

The inside of the 'Climax' plum is yellow. It is also very sweet and full of juice. The juicy part of the fruit sticks to the seed inside.

The skin of the plum is dark red and has yellow spots. Some people find the skin's taste a little unpleasant. But, when the plum is fully ripe, the skin peels off easily from the fruit.

Who Was Luther Burbank?

Luther Burbank was a very famous American botanist and plant breeder. He developed more than 800 new types of plants. These included fruits, vegetables, and flowers. He worked on making plants stronger and more productive.

Burbank's work helped farmers grow better crops. He created many plants that are still grown today. His home and gardens in Santa Rosa, California, are now a national historic landmark.