[2] It has been important for breeding commercial plum cultivars from crosses with other species of the genus Prunus.

[5] Prunus simonii is a small deciduous tree growing to about 6 meters (20 ft) in height.

[2] The flowers produce almost no pollen; the fruit varies in quality, can be bitter or pleasant to eat, and is flat in shape.

[3] The fruit is particularly aromatic, much more so than Prunus salicina, with a comparatively high level of hexyl acetate, which gives apples their aroma.

[9] Other influential plum cultivars that Burbank developed with P. simonii ancestry include 'Maynard', 'Chalco', 'Santa Rosa', and 'Formosa'.