Since yours were seedlings grafted stock you may find sold under the name may have different (and probably better) characteristics. Searching internet with "german prune" brings up background information. To get a better idea of what you are looking for read up on what "German prune" may refer to first - there may or may not be a single cultivar sold simply as 'German prune' in this country - and if it is it may be different from your tree.

It is probably also the case that there are other Prunus domestica cultivars or even other plum cultivars of different derivation that are more suitable for your environmental conditions but have the same or similar fruiting attributes.

"A breeding program at Auburn University has developed a series of new plum varieties that have resistance to black knot, brown rot, and bacterial canker. These plums would be good candidates for homeowners that want to minimize their use of fungicides. Locating all of the varieties may be a little difficult. We currently do not have any experience with growing these varieties in Pennsylvania."

Here is a link that might be useful: Disease-Resistant Plums

Fellemberg, a German type prune, is sold by Miller Nurseries N.Y., dwarf $23.95 and standard $20.85. I have one semi dwarf. It is also known as 'Italian'.

Here is a link that might be useful: Miller Nurseries

There seem to have been a number of names for the German prune tree, which came fairly true from seeds. The book "The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America" that Google has re-published on the Internet discusses the Quetsche or German Prune, on page 310. Another Google Internet book, "The New American Orchardist", describes the German prune on page 222 as:
"a large and very oblong fruit, bell-shaped of a blue color; flesh yellow, very sweet, juicy, delicious. It ripens the last of August and continues on the tree till winter; and shrivels till it becomes quite dry. A fine fruit."
Trees of Antiquity, Raintree, and Cummings nursery all offer a few German plum trees, but they sound a little different from the Quetsche. Good luck finding it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Quetsche or German Prune

Oh my altadenamara does that ever sound like it! And it is true, those little trees would be just loaded. I don't ever remember a good year/bad year with production.

Having found a name may help. I need to comb he local area again to see if anyone has them still. I try to put ads in locally a couple times a year. Most folks don't bother anymore.

Appreciate alls help! Anyone come across some of these fine trees - keep me in mind!

It seems that history has swallowed that particular plum, it was once incredibly popular but has since disappeared - I can't find it listed anywhere. The ARS seems to have not helped matters by listing "German Prune" as a synonym for Italian Prune aka Fellemberg. The Italian Prune is somewhat similar so if you decide to just get a tree I would get that one.

Scott

I asked Jim Cummings at Cummings Nursery about your plum, and he replyed:
"The old Hausquetsche was indeed propagated by seed; there are still many such old trees in Germany. We do not carry Quetsche because so many modern varieties are superior. We are almost sold out of blue plums; still have dwarf Empress and Longjohn.
The "blight" is most likely the black knot disease, caused by a fungus."

If you just knew someone in Germany who could send you some seeds.

"so many modern varieties are superior" This is true, but also false. It is sad also. I mean when you look at virtues of heritage plants, and the plum I am looking for would certainly fall into that catagory, it has a lot more going for it than the modern varieties do. Yes, very sad.

I keep looking - and will let all know if I find any!

My impression of this plum is that for quite some time people have felt it was not one of the best plums. Many heritage plums continue to be grown but this one was felt inferior. Here is what Plums of New York circa 1911 says:

Although one of the oldest plums under cultivation, probably the oldest of the prune type, the German Prune is still as largely grown, the world over, as any; and is seemingly more widely disseminated than any other plum. It is a little difficult, in America at least, to see why this fruit holds its popularity so long, for it is surpassed by other plums in many horticultural characters, and when all of its characters, most of which are very good, are combined there are still plums which it does not excel. In most of the attributes which gratify the senses, color, size, shape, taste and smell, it falls below expectations for a plum so universally planted. Undoubtedly the wide distribution of this plum is due somewhat to its many variations. The fruit comes almost true to seed and is often propagated by planting pits, a practice which has given many slightly different strains of this variety, each with somewhat different adaptations.

This quote alone probably helped its demise as this book has been the leading book on plums in the US for the last hundred years. Was the plum really inferior? Its hard to say. Fruits go in and out of fashion and even scientific writers such as Hedrick, who wrote the above, are susceptible to those whims. One example is the low opinion Hedrick had of the "Indian" peaches (Indian Cling and Free), which have won recent taste tests at Dave Wilson. My view is that is more the exception than the rule however.

Scott

Another way of looking at this:

There's a zillion prune plums, unidentified, growing all over this country. A lot of them, mebbe even half a zillion, are close to what you're looking for. Seedlings of your mother's tree may be growing near your old home. Can you check out the neighborhood (or is it all paved over now)?

I hope you'll find a few that are close enough, and then you can name them the New Hausquetsche.

Good luck!

M

Do not under any circumstance import any prunus seed from Europe, unless you go through proper quarantine procedures with the Feds.

Plum Pox VirusÂM has been reported to be seed transmitted. It infests peach, plum, and apricot.

Please do not take a chance of getting this virus started in North America.

I purchased german prunes from a gas station outside of Hazelton, PA. He has the trees he sells the fruit from. He said to propagate plant the whole fruit. I've never grown a tree before but I'll give it a try from pits and fruit. If you are interested I can give you directions via email. The fruit is delicious.

Hi Susan,
I too grew up in a German family who had this prune/plum tree in Oregon. I remember my mother calling it an Italian prune. The tree was short for a fruit tree but every year bore thousands of prunes, all sweet, juicy, very tasty. I found this forum when looking to see if I could plant some seeds of some I got at the local grocery store here in San Antonio where I now live. I had somewhere in my memory banks stored that it was one of the kinds of fruits that would be worth trying from seed, so I will give it a shot. I am enjoing eating them and they taste just like the ones that I remember as a teen. Long story short, but I am no where near a teen anymore as that tree was planted in about '64 and I asked and it is gone from the property, dieing in the last 10 years. Plus our family sold off the house when my Mom passed on. So if you need seeds, lemme know--
Lucy