Cultivar 152: Cree

Cree is a hardy plum hybrid from the South Dakota Experiment Station. It was introduced in 1917 from Manitoba wild plum crossed with Combination plum pollen. It was one of the named Manitoba plum hybrids selected from this breeding work. Older prairie sources place it among the sorts much grown in the North, especially in Manitoba. [S1] [S3] [S4]

It came from an early prairie effort to combine native northern hardiness with better fruit quality. Hansen's bulletin names Cree with Pembina and Ojibwa as the three named hybrids in this group. Later prairie orchard notes give the same parentage and introduction date. Hansen also pointed to Luther Burbank's Combination plum as an important quality parent, noting that Combination had been regarded as the best in quality among a very large seedling population when it was introduced. [S3] [S4]

Sources describe Cree as a medium sized, oval, bright red plum with thin but very tough skin and yellow juicy flesh. A South Dakota breeding synopsis places it among productive Manitoba wild plum hybrids with large red fruit of excellent quality. A later prairie orchard note says its eating quality is poor because of the thick, tough skin. The record is mixed: attractive and juicy fruit, but not consistently praised for dessert use. [S3] [S4]

The tree is described as spreading, vigorous, very hardy, and productive. Recommendation tables placed Cree among Hansen's large hybrid plums for all South Dakota zones. This supports its reputation as a broadly adapted prairie plum rather than a sort for sheltered districts. Older northern fruit writing also says it was much grown in Manitoba, reinforcing its cold climate placement. [S1] [S2] [S4]

In the broader plum archive, Cree belongs to the Manitoba native plum hybrid line. It stands with Pembina and Ojibwa as one of the key named seedlings from that line. Its parentage matters because it combines local prairie plum hardiness with an introduced quality plum, showing the early northern breeding pattern that produced many classic prairie hybrid plums. [S1] [S3]

Summary source basis

• S1: New Hardy Fruits for the Northwest
• S2: South Dakota Fruit Garden
• S3: Plant Introductions
• S4: TreeFruitsGrownInPrairieOrchards WRLeslie 1946 HQ

This summary currently draws chiefly from Plant Introductions, with 3 additional supporting sources linked below.

Featured source descriptions

“In 1901 when the Combination was introduced by Luther Burbank, it was considered the best in quality of 25,000 seedlings.”
— ^[4]

“One of three named Manitoba wild plum hybrids discussed as productive trees with large red fruit of excellent quality.”
— ^[4]

“Reference points to Bulletin 224, page 21.”
— ^[2]

“Index entry listed on page 21.”
— ^[4]

Direct parent cultivars

• No direct linked parent cultivars promoted yet.

Parentage claim text

• Manitoba native plum x Combination plum.
• Pedigree: Manitoba wild plum x Combination plum pollen.
• South Dakota Experiment Station, 1917, Manitoba Wild Plum X Combination.

Derived or downstream cultivar links

• No derived or downstream lineage links yet.

Source-story quotations

• HANSEN PLUMS FOR ALL ZONES | Large Hybrids | other | CreeSouth Dakota Fruit Garden (visual sample pages 9-11), p1
• HANSEN PLUMS FOR ALL ZONES | Large Hybrids | other | CreeSouth Dakota Fruit Garden (visual sample pages 9-11), p1
• HANSEN PLUMS FOR ALL ZONES | Large Hybrids | other | CreeSouth Dakota Fruit Garden (visual sample pages 9-11), p1
• HANSEN PLUMS FOR ALL ZONES | Large Hybrids | other | CreeSouth Dakota Fruit Garden (visual sample pages 9-11), p1

Taxonomy context: No family-tree context surfaced yet.

Related cultivars mentioned in source context