Cultivar 148: Radisson

Radisson is a cold climate plum hybrid from the University of Minnesota. It was introduced in 1925. Its parentage is given as Prunus salicina crossed with P. americana or with an unspecified native plum.[S2] [S3] It was part of northern breeding work to improve plums for prairie and upper Midwest conditions. Later recommendation tables placed it in South Dakota's Zone III, the plains and northern parts of the state, as a variety worth trying.[S1] [S2]

Sources describe Radisson as a medium sized to moderately tall tree with an upright to spreading habit, good vigor, and good productivity.[S2] [S3] It was noted as hardier than most plums of its breeding background.[S3] Minnesota material also says it blooms in early May and has poor fruit adherence, so ripe fruit may not hang well.[S2]

The fruit is described as fairly large for this class, about 1 1/4 inches in diameter, oval to roundish oval, and slightly pointed.[S2] [S3] The skin is dark or rich red, with many dots and a heavy bloom.[S2] [S3] The flesh is yellow to rich yellow, juicy, and rated good in quality.[S2] [S3] Minnesota's fuller description says the flavor is sweet with a sour skin. The prairie orchard account adds that the skin is thick and slightly astringent and that the flesh is firm, tender, slightly fibrous, and sweet.[S2] [S3]

Radisson ripens early. One source gives early August, and another gives the latter part of August.[S2] [S3] The fruit appears useful as a quality dessert or general purpose plum, though the surviving sources here emphasize description and performance more than named kitchen uses.[S2] [S3]

In broader lineage terms, Radisson belongs to the hardy plum hybrid stream built from Japanese plum and native American plum blood.[S2] [S3] This helps explain its combination of better fruit quality and improved hardiness for prairie and upper Midwest growing.[S2] [S3] South Dakota's recommendation table does not present it as a universally planted standard, but it does show that Radisson was considered promising enough for trial in the colder northern zone.[S1]

Summary source basis

• S1: South Dakota Fruit Garden
• S2: 9c684c14 7509 4b78 a803 0bf01a64aa28
• S3: TreeFruitsGrownInPrairieOrchards WRLeslie 1946 HQ

This summary currently draws chiefly from 9c684c14 7509 4b78 a803 0bf01a64aa28, with 3 additional supporting sources linked below.

Featured source descriptions

“Form: oval; apex: tapering, slightly round; cavity: deep, abrupt; suture: shallow.”
— ^[5]

“Stem: 5/8 inch long, moderately thick. Stone: 3/4 x 1/2 inch, oval, cling.”
— ^[5]

“Skin thick, slightly astringent; flesh firm, tender, slightly fibrous, juicy, sweet.”
— ^[6]

“Flesh: yellow, very juicy; flavor: sweet with sour skin; quality: good.”
— ^[5]

Direct parent cultivars

• No direct linked parent cultivars promoted yet.

Parentage claim text

• Parentage: Prunus salicina x P. americana (parent cultivars unknown).

Derived or downstream cultivar links

• No derived or downstream lineage links yet.

Source-story quotations

• Radisson originated by the Minnesota Fruit Breeding Farm. Good size and good quality. Especially valuable in northern sections where a hardy tree with early maturing fruit is needed.Hardy fruits for Northern planting, trees, shrubs, 1937, p8
• Radisson originated by the Minnesota Fruit Breeding Farm. Good size and good quality. Especially valuable in northern sections where a hardy tree with early maturing fruit is needed.Hardy fruits for Northern planting, trees, shrubs, 1937, p8
• Radisson originated by the Minnesota Fruit Breeding Farm. Good size and good quality. Especially valuable in northern sections where a hardy tree with early maturing fruit is needed.Hardy fruits for Northern planting, trees, shrubs, 1937, p8
• Radisson originated by the Minnesota Fruit Breeding Farm. Good size and good quality. Especially valuable in northern sections where a hardy tree with early maturing fruit is needed.Hardy fruits for Northern planting, trees, shrubs, 1937, p8

Taxonomy context: No family-tree context surfaced yet.

Related cultivars mentioned in source context