American plum is a small, understory tree to 35 ft. with fragrant, white flowers in showy, flat-topped clusters occuring before the leaves in spring. The fruit that follows ripens to a shiny, bright red in August or September. The short, crooked trunk – with scaly, black bark – supports a graceful, open crown.
How do I know if I have a plum tree?
Plum is a small broadleaf, deciduous tree or sometimes a shrub, with dark-brown bark. The branches grow straight and twigs are often spiny in wild plants. Look out for: the leaf stem which is hairy, often with a pair of yellow-green coloured glands.
What are plums called in America?
Prunus americana, commonly called the American plum, wild plum, or Marshall’s large yellow sweet plum, is a species of Prunus native to North America from Saskatchewan and Idaho south to New Mexico and east to Québec, Maine and Florida. Marsh. Prunus acinaria Desf.
Where is the best place to plant plum trees?
full sun
Plum trees need full sun to produce sweet fruit, so pick a planting site that gets at least six hours a day. For soil, they prefer loamy, well-draining soil rich with organic matter.
How long does it take for a plum tree to bear fruit?
three to six years
Plum trees typically begin to bear fruit when they are three to six years of age. Fruit develops earlier in some varieties and you even see baby plums begin to appear earlier in age.
Do all plum trees bear fruit?
Most, but not all, plums are self-unfruitful, and trees require cross-pollination to set fruit, so you need to plant two or more compatible varieties. The trees generally begin bearing fruit four to six years after planting.
Can you eat American plums?
The plums are eaten fresh and used in jellies and preserves, and are also consumed by many kinds of birds. Numerous cultivated varieties with improved fruit have been developed. A handsome ornamental with large flowers and relatively big fruit, American Plum is also grown for erosion control, spreading by root sprouts.
Do American plums taste good?
The skin is thick and very tart, but the flesh is usually amazing. The smell and flavor of a good American plum is unbeatable. It surpasses any domesticated plum I have tasted. Because the skin is thick and tart, I like to crack the plums open and eat out the flesh.
Can you eat American wild plum?
In reality, we already have several cold hardy fruit trees and shrubs native to the state. A common one is American plum (Prunus americana), and while it may not have the most desirable fruit, it is edible and the wildlife love it.
How tall does plum tree grow?
about 18-20 feet
Depending on the type of fruit tree you’re hoping to plant, the mature height may vary just a little: pears* and plums reach about 18-20 feet in height, while apricots grow up to 15-20 feet tall/wide.
What does a plum tree look like in spring?
Flowers: Fruiting Plum trees bear tiny white flowers, while the Flowering Plum tree features multiple bursts of pink and white blooms that resemble Japanese cherry blossoms. In the spring, Flowering Plum trees are covered with thick clusters of dazzling flowers that can be seen for miles.
Are plum trees easy to grow?
Growing plum trees is not too difficult as long as you give them what they need. Plums require full sun and well-drained, sandy soil in order to thrive. They prefer a soil with a pH that ranges from 5.5 to 6.5.
Do I need 2 plum trees to produce fruit?
Most plum trees are not self-pollinating, so you will need to plant at least two plum trees to bear fruit. When planting a plum tree, it is important to make sure that the variety you choose will grow well in your climate. European, Japanese, and Damson plum varieties are available depending on your location.
Can I plant just one plum tree?
European plums are generally self-fertile, but Japanese and American hybrid plums usually need to cross-pollinate with a second variety for cross-pollination. So, if you have space for only one tree, go with a European plum. However, even self-fertile trees will produce better if cross-pollinated with a second tree.
Do plum trees need a lot of water?
Young plum trees need to be watered at least once a week to promote healthy root growth. Once the tree is established, it requires regular watering, especially in the dry summer months. Deeply water your plum tree once every two to four weeks.
Should you prune a plum tree?
Plum trees do not require as precise pruning as apples and pears, but still benefit from initial training and the thinning of old wood to ensure they produce as much fruit as possible. Plums are pruned in early spring or mid-summer to avoid infection by silver leaf disease.
What month do plum trees blossom?
Many Plum trees full of blossom fail to yield, or yield poorly, when the period during flowering is frosty. This often happens, because flowering takes place quite early, late March sometimes even, or April.
How many times a year does a plum tree produce fruit?
Plum trees produce fruit between June and September, after blooming in late winter to early spring. Dwarf varieties can produce fruit a year sooner (2 to 5 years after planting).
Are plum trees messy?
In short, these trees are a mess year round. Plum Trees: Unless you can somehow pick and eat them fast enough, a plum tree is going to litter the ground around it with innumerable sticky, squishy plum lumps.
Why are there no plums on my plum tree?
Reasons Plum Tree not Fruiting
Freezing temperatures before blooms open will also kill the flowers. Without flowers, you will have no fruit. Insects that chew the terminal ends, shoots, and flowers will also cause no fruit on plum trees. Excess nitrogen fertilizer promotes leafy growth and can diminish fruiting.
What is the most popular plum tree?
Santa Rosa Plum Tree: The most popular Plum tree for commercial use and home growing, the Santa Rosa produces tons of sweet, dark purple fruit.