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Plum variety

Elephant Heart

Also known as Elephant Heart Plum

The short answer

Elephant Heart requires 500 chill hours[1] and grows in USDA zones 5–9[2]. It needs a pollination partner[1].

Growing facts

Elephant Heart growing facts
Chill requirement500 chill hours[1] (nursery figure)
HardinessUSDA zones 5–9[2] (nursery figure)
PollinationNeeds a pollination partner, bloom group 3[1]
Harvest windowAugust–September[1]
Years to bearing3–5 years (typical for plums)[3]
Elephant Heart plumSpecies illustration — no historical watercolor exists for this cultivar

Pollination partners

Elephant Heart blooms in group 3. The closest bloom-time matches make the most reliable partners:

Show 10 more compatible varieties

Notes

  • Japanese-type plum with red flesh; not self-fertile — needs a pollinizer such as Beauty or Santa Rosa.[1]

A year with your Elephant Heart

When the work happens for a plum in USDA zone 7, anchored to typical frost dates.

Months for pruning, thinning, spray-timing windows, and harvest for Plum in zone 7
TaskJFMAMJJASOND
Prune——————————
Thin——————————
Spray timing——————
Harvest————————
Care——————————

See the full month-by-month plum calendar for zone 7 →

Can I grow Elephant Heart where I live?

Check the verdict for a few regions, or your exact ZIP:

Growing an Elephant Heart? Get its care calendar for your exact ZIP code, starting with this month’s tasks for one tree, free.

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Questions

How many chill hours does Elephant Heart need?
Elephant Heart needs 500 chill hours.
What hardiness zones suit Elephant Heart?
Elephant Heart grows in USDA zones 5–9.
Is Elephant Heart self-pollinating?
No — Elephant Heart needs a compatible pollination partner nearby.

Sources

  1. [1] Dave Wilson Nursery. Elephant Heart Plum — DWN Variety Finder — accessed July 2026
  2. [2] Dave Wilson Nursery. Elephant Heart — variety specifications — accessed October 2026
  3. [3] Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. How soon will a newly planted fruit tree begin to bear fruit? (Yard and Garden FAQ) — accessed July 2026