Tomlinson

'Tomlinson' is a dwarf natal plum introduced to the mainstream nursery trade by Monrovia and is one of the easiest named cultivars for a home grower to actually buy in the United States. Its defining improvement over the older dwarfs is thorn placement: the spines are small and tucked deep inside very dense foliage, so the plant keeps a degree of barrier function while being far more pleasant to handle and prune than the species or than clones like 'Emerald Blanket'. It grows slowly into a naturally rounded, lustrous, leathery-leaved mound of two to three feet without shaping, which suits it to foundation plantings, low hedges, borders, patio containers and small courtyard gardens. It blooms intermittently from spring through autumn and follows with edible wine-red fruit used fresh, in preserves and in baking, so it earns a place as an ornamental-edible in warm-climate gardens.