Plum
Santa Rosa Pollination Guide
Santa Rosa can set some fruit on its own, but produces significantly better crops with a pollination partner.
While Santa Rosa has some ability to self-pollinate, you'll get noticeably larger harvests and better fruit quality with a compatible variety planted nearby. For the best results, plant one of the recommended partners within 50–100 feet.
Santa Rosa Quick Facts
Chill Hours
300 hours
Hardiness Zones
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Harvest
June to July
Pollination Note
Japanese plum — cannot pollinate European plums (Stanley). Other Japanese plums improve yield.
Planning Your Orchard
Santa Rosa benefits from having a compatible variety nearby. For best results, ensure good pollinator habitat by planting bee-friendly flowers nearby and avoiding pesticide use during bloom.
Keep a record of every tree you plant — variety, rootstock, location.
Start your free tree log →Compatible Pollination Partners
Can I Grow Santa Rosa?
Check if your climate has enough chill hours for Santa Rosa. Enter your zip code for an instant answer.
Check your zip code →Interactive Pollination Checker
Compare pollination compatibility across all 60+ fruit tree varieties in our database.
Open checker →Most people forget within a year.
Which pairs fruited well, what bloomed when, what you did each season — write it down from the start.
Free for up to 30 plants. No card needed.
About Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa is Luther Burbank's masterpiece — a Japanese plum with deep purple skin, amber flesh, and complex sweet-tart flavor. It's the most widely planted plum in California.
Growing Challenges
Prone to brown rot and bacterial canker; heavy crops require thinning to prevent branch breakage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close does a pollinator need to be to Santa Rosa?
For reliable pollination, plant the partner variety within 50–100 feet of Santa Rosa. Bees are the primary pollinators and typically work within this range. In practice, a tree in your yard or even a neighbor's nearby tree can work. The closer the trees, the more consistent the fruit set.
Can I grow just one Santa Rosa tree?
You can, but you'll get significantly better harvests with a compatible partner nearby. Santa Rosa is partially self-fertile — it will set some fruit alone, but cross-pollination dramatically improves yield and fruit quality.
Other Plum Varieties
Related Tools
Pollination Checker
Interactive tool to find compatible pollination partners for any fruit tree.
Can I Grow Santa Rosa?
Check if your zip code has enough chill hours for this variety.
Chill Hour Checker
Validate chill hours for any fruit tree variety by zip code.
Frost Date Finder
Find your first and last frost dates to plan bloom protection.
Pollination data compiled from university extension services, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) pollination group charts, RosBREED cherry S-allele research, and nursery compatibility guides. Pollination compatibility can vary by region and microclimate. For best results, consult your local extension office.