Cultivar 347: Elite

Elite is a prairie plum introduced by the University of Saskatchewan in 1960. It was described as a large, dark red fruit for fresh use.[S2] [S4] Most sources place it among hardy prairie plum hybrids from native plum and Japanese plum stock, but the exact parentage is not stated consistently.[S2] [S4]

University of Saskatchewan records list Elite as selection P58-107 and say it was introduced at Saskatoon. The fruit description was based on field conditions without irrigation.[S4] A later prairie index gives its origin as P. nigra x P. salicina, while another prairie production guide says the parentage is unknown.[S1] [S2] A Saskatchewan evaluation from the mid 1970s still counted Elite among the better University of Saskatchewan plum introductions, which helps explain why it remained in prairie cultivar lists.[S3]

Sources describe the fruit as about 4 cm across, or up to 2 inches each way, with dark red skin and yellow flesh.[S1] [S2] [S4] Saskatchewan evaluation tables add that the flesh is juicy, the flavor is sweet, and dessert quality is good, while the skin is thick, tough, and slightly astringent.[S3] Prairie index data also class it as a large plum for fresh eating.[S2]

Its season is given as late August in one prairie production guide, late in another index table, and early September in the University of Saskatchewan introduction sheet.[S1] [S2] [S4] This places Elite in the late summer to very early fall window rather than among the latest prairie plums.[S1] [S4]

Hardiness appears moderate rather than extreme. A Saskatchewan horticultural source says Elite would seem limited to Zone 3B and possibly the central part of Zone 4, and reports considerable injury in the eastern part of Zone 4.[S3] Even so, one Prairie Provinces guide recommended it for less favorable zones, which suggests some prairie usefulness in protected or suitable sites despite those cautions.[S1]

Elite belongs to the broad group of prairie plums bred from native North American plum material crossed with P. salicina, the Japanese plum.[S2] [S4] That background mattered in prairie breeding because the goal was to combine better fruit quality with enough hardiness for the Canadian plains.[S1] Elite is one example of that effort: a Saskatchewan selection from the first generation of serious prairie fruit improvement work.[S3] [S4]

Summary source basis

• S1: Tree fruit production for the Prairie Provinces
• S2: An index of fruit cultivars tested or developed on the Canadian prairies.
• S3: hortfacts_1976_3.pdf
• S4: University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960

This summary currently draws chiefly from hortfacts_1976_3.pdf, with 3 additional supporting sources linked below.

Featured source descriptions

“Skin described as thick, tough, slightly astringent; flesh as yellow and juicy.”
— ^[4]

“Considered one of the better varieties.”
— ^[4]

“Fruit diameter 4.0; maturity late.”
— ^[3]

“Would appear to be limited in hardiness to Zone 3B and possibly the central portion of Zone 4.”
— ^[4]

Direct parent cultivars

• No direct linked parent cultivars promoted yet.

Parentage claim text

• Origin listed as P. nigra x P. salicina.
• Parentage listed as native x Prunus salicina, mixed open pollinations.

Derived or downstream cultivar links

• No derived or downstream lineage links yet.

Source-story quotations

• P58-107 Elite ... Native x P. salicina. Mixed open pollinations ... 1960 ... fruit up to 2" each way ... skin dark red, flesh juicy and of good quality, season early September.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p7
• P58-107 Elite ... Native x P. salicina. Mixed open pollinations ... 1960 ... fruit up to 2" each way ... skin dark red, flesh juicy and of good quality, season early September.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p7
• P58-107 Elite ... Native x P. salicina. Mixed open pollinations ... 1960 ... fruit up to 2" each way ... skin dark red, flesh juicy and of good quality, season early September.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p7
• P58-107 Elite ... Native x P. salicina. Mixed open pollinations ... 1960 ... fruit up to 2" each way ... skin dark red, flesh juicy and of good quality, season early September.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p7

Taxonomy context: No family-tree context surfaced yet.

Related cultivars mentioned in source context