Hanska Plum

The Hanska Plum was developed at the South Dakota College of Agriculture in 1908. It’s a cross of the native Plum and the Chinese Apricot Plum. Hanska is the Dakota Sioux Native American word for “tall” in reference to its rapid growth. We can attest to this trait as our Hanska tree has grown vigorously and was covered with beautiful white flowers in its first year after planting. 

The Hanska plum is small by modern standards at only 1 to 1.5 inches, but it has a small pit so there is a good pit to flesh ratio. The tart skin is red in color and the flesh is amber yellow and very sweet with an apricot after taste. It also has a good amount of juice. Here in southwest Iowa it ripens about the second week of August. 

Hanska will do best with an American Plum or American hybrid for a pollinating partner.