A cultivar of Prunus domestica with an upright to vase-shaped form, 'Stanley' has been one of the most widely grown European plums in North American gardens for generations — reliable, productive, and adaptable to rootstocks that let growers choose between a dwarf tree at 8 to 10 feet, a semi-dwarf at 12 to 15, or a full standard reaching 18 to 20 feet. The white spring flowers are genuinely pretty, and the purple-skinned, yellow-fleshed fruits arrive with a high sugar content that makes them unusually versatile: fresh eating, canning, and sun-drying into prunes are all well within reach. Trees begin bearing in three to four years, which is prompt for a stone fruit.

For best results, a sheltered, sunny position with good drainage is essential, and protecting open flowers from late spring frosts pays dividends in years when the timing is close. 'Stanley' is self-fruitful but crops more heavily with a compatible partner nearby, and pairing it with 'Bluefire' or 'Empress' is a common and effective combination. Black knot and split-pit are worth watching, and aphids are a seasonal nuisance common to all plums but rarely serious with attentive management.