Cultivar 161: Terry

Terry is a native American plum, usually classed as an Americana plum. One source places it more narrowly in Prunus americana var. mollis. H. A. Terry of Crescent, Iowa, raised it from seed of Van Buren. It first fruited in 1896 and was introduced for trial in 1900. Earlier sources say it was first called Free Silver. It became known as a large, showy native plum and was later used in breeding as a parent of cultivars such as Kahinta, Tawena, and Waneta.[S3] [S4] [S5] [S2]

Sources describe the fruit as very large for a native plum, oval, and dark red to dull dark red, with a thin bloom.[S3] [S5] The flesh is yellow, firm, and melting, with a large flat pit. Prairie sources rate the quality as good for a native plum.[S3] [S5] An early Iowa description called it one of the largest and handsomest native plums yet produced. It also said the flavor suggested some Miner influence, though that was an observer's impression, not documented parentage.[S3]

Terry ripened about September 7 to 9 in South Dakota trial records, and a prairie orchard source gives the season as early September.[S3] [S5] At the South Dakota Experiment Station, it bore heavily in 1903 and had the largest fruit on the grounds that year.[S3] The tree is described as strong, upright, open, and vigorous.[S3] [S5] It appears to have needed pruning to stay compact and reduce splitting under heavy crops. One tree was reported badly broken down by heavy fruiting.[S3]

Its hardiness record comes from prairie sources rather than a formal zone rating. A later prairie source calls it hardy at Morden, Manitoba, and South Dakota Extension listed Terry among native plums recommended for cross pollination in home fruit plantings.[S5] [S1] This places it clearly in northern Great Plains and prairie fruit culture, where native plum blood mattered for survival and cropping.

Terry also has broader value in northern plum breeding history. South Dakota introduction records repeatedly name it as a native Prunus americana parent in later hybrids, especially Kahinta and Waneta. This shows breeders valued its size and native adaptation.[S4] [S3] In the archive, Terry stands both as a cultivar in its own right and as a foundation parent in the hardy plum lineage.[S4] [S5]

Summary source basis

• S1: South Dakota Fruit Garden
• S2: 9c684c14 7509 4b78 a803 0bf01a64aa28
• S3: Plums in South Dakota
• S4: Plant Introductions
• S5: TreeFruitsGrownInPrairieOrchards WRLeslie 1946 HQ

This summary currently draws chiefly from Plums in South Dakota, with 5 additional supporting sources linked below.

Featured source descriptions

“Originally called the Free Silver.”
— ^[1]

“Craig, in Bulletin 46 of the Iowa Experiment Station (March, 1900), described it as one of the largest and handsomest native plums yet produced and said its flavor strongly indicated a strain of Miner blood.”
— ^[1]

“At the South Dakota Experiment Station it distinguished itself in 1903 by bearing a heavy crop.”
— ^[1]

“It evidently needs pruning to give a more compact habit and to avoid splitting down.”
— ^[1]

Direct parent cultivars

• No direct linked parent cultivars promoted yet.

Parentage claim text

• Species/background listed as P. salicina x P. americana.

Derived or downstream cultivar links

• No derived or downstream lineage links yet.

Source-story quotations

• It is a cross of the America, a large Japanese plum, with pollen of the Terry, the largest native plum.Northern novelties for 1921 : some new fruits, ornamentals, etc., p3
• It is a cross of the America, a large Japanese plum, with pollen of the Terry, the largest native plum.Northern novelties for 1921 : some new fruits, ornamentals, etc., p3
• TERRY—(Free Silver)—This is by all means the finest plum grown in the entire Northwest.PERENNIALS - The Northwest Nursery Co., p17
• TERRY—(Free Silver)—This is by all means the finest plum grown in the entire Northwest.PERENNIALS - The Northwest Nursery Co., p17

Taxonomy context: No family-tree context surfaced yet.

Related cultivars mentioned in source context