Cultivar 92: Surprise

Surprise is a large red plum, usually treated as a hortulana or americana-hortulana type. Most descriptive sources connect it to Martin Penning of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. South Dakota and Minnesota sources say Penning raised seedlings from De Soto, Weaver, and a few Miner pits in 1882, then named this one because its size surprised him. Those sources place its introduction in 1899 and say its botanical character points to Miner parentage. Later technical summaries broaden this to a probable hybrid with Prunus americana and P. hortulana mineri. Surprise also mattered in breeding, because it was later used as a parent of Tecumseh in the cross Shiro x Surprise. [S6] [S5] [S7] [S1]

The fruit was described as large and nearly egg shaped, with bright red skin, yellow flesh, a small clingstone pit, and flesh that is firm, sweet, and good. A more technical Minnesota description gives the fruit as about 1 1/2 by 1 inch, oblong with unequal halves, with red skin, medium bloom, yellow smooth melting flesh, and slightly acid skin. That source rates overall quality as only fair. Together these descriptions show a plum with strong size and color, but with sources differing on eating quality. It ripened from early to late August in Minnesota sources and around September 7 to 10 in South Dakota station records from 1903 and 1904. [S6] [S3]

Tree descriptions are notably strong for this cultivar. South Dakota station trees were very strong growers, handsome, upright, and well distributed in branch structure, though they needed some early trimming to form a more compact head. They began bearing young, with grafted trees planted in 1901 fruiting by 1903 and carrying a heavy crop in 1904. The Minnesota bulletin likewise describes the tree as medium sized, vigorous, upright spreading, productive, and notable for holding its fruit well. [S6] [S3]

Surprise stood out in northern plum culture because it was counted among the few hortulana group plums considered hardy in South Dakota, along with Miner. It was recommended for general cultivation by the Minnesota State Horticultural Society in 1904 and appears in South Dakota home garden recommendations as a native plum pollinizer. Reports from Manitoba and south central North Dakota show it was planted well into the northern plains, even where performance was still under test. One later prairie index entry, however, lists a Surprise of unknown parentage and connects it to Dr. S. Wheeler of Rosthern, Saskatchewan. Sources do not make clear whether this is conflicting attribution for the same plum or a separate record with the same name. [S6] [S2] [S4]

Summary source basis

• S1: New Hardy Fruits for the Northwest
• S2: South Dakota Fruit Garden
• S3: 9c684c14 7509 4b78 a803 0bf01a64aa28
• S4: An index of fruit cultivars tested or developed on the Canadian prairies.
• S5: The Western Sand Cherry
• S6: Plums in South Dakota
• S7: Plant Introductions

This summary currently draws chiefly from Plums in South Dakota, with 9 additional supporting sources linked below.

Featured source descriptions

“The page identifies Martin Penning of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, as originator of the Surprise plum.”
— ^[11]

“Fruit described as oblong with unequal halves, depressed apex, wide moderately deep cavity, and continuous red line suture.”
— ^[9]

“Stone described as 5/8 x 1/2 inch, flat, long, oval, cling.”
— ^[9]

“Parentage is listed as unknown.”
— ^[10]

Direct parent cultivars

• No direct linked parent cultivars promoted yet.

Parentage claim text

• No direct breeding_cross claim text yet.

Derived or downstream cultivar links

• Shiro (lineage link)

Source-story quotations

• SURPRISE—Fruit large to very large; skin medium thick, tender; bright red; flesh pale yellow, meaty, fine flavor; quality extra good. Season medium.PERENNIALS - The Northwest Nursery Co., p17
• SURPRISE—Fruit large to very large; skin medium thick, tender; bright red; flesh pale yellow, meaty, fine flavor; quality extra good. Season medium.PERENNIALS - The Northwest Nursery Co., p17
• SURPRISE—Fruit large to very large; skin medium thick, tender; bright red; flesh pale yellow, meaty, fine flavor; quality extra good. Season medium.PERENNIALS - The Northwest Nursery Co., p17
• SURPRISE—Fruit large to very large; skin medium thick, tender; bright red; flesh pale yellow, meaty, fine flavor; quality extra good. Season medium.PERENNIALS - The Northwest Nursery Co., p17

Taxonomy context: No family-tree context surfaced yet.

Related cultivars mentioned in source context