Wild Plum

Wild plum

Chickasaw plum suckers available now for local folks (NC & VA) 

BARE ROOT TREES WILL SHIP OCT/NOV

There are many species of plum native to this part of the world. In current times they are somewhat rare however as recently as 40-50 years ago they were a common sight. They can often be observed in hedgerows, meadows, and forest clearings. Wild plums are typically small vigorous shrubs. They have an ability to send out suckers and expand to create large dense patches. Like other species in the stone fruit family their blooms offer forage for insects early in the season when few other flowers can be found. Wild plums typically respond well to low intensity fires. They need full sun in order to express fast growth and good fruit production however they will also survive and grow in shady conditions.

Because these plums evolved here they are able to produce fruit without any sprays and minimal human care. That said wild plums will still respond positively to good tree care practices such as pruning, mulching, and compost. The plums range in color and flavor but are generally small in size. Many folks enjoy making jams and preserves with native plums. They are great for wildlife food and work well in wind breaks and hedgerows. Like other native plants they play a key role in supporting wildlife of all kinds. Native insects use the shrubs for food and habitat. Their thickets provide cover for animals of all kind, especially birds. Most native plums have some small thorns. This helps deter browsing animals. 

Overall these are amazing plants. We hope to expand our plum offerings in 2025 but for 2024 our selections are somewhat limited. We have some beach plums, bare root and ready to go for 2024 and lots of Chickasaw plum seed planted for 2025. Plum seed can sometimes experience double dormancy so it can be tricky to anticipate when we will see germination. There are over a dozen species of native plum are we are itching to grow them all! If you come across a patch that is producing a lot of fruit we would love to explore buying seed from you (or exploring a trade option). 

2025 Selections

Chickasaw Plum

Chickasaw plum is a southeastern species of wild plum that thrives in the hot and humid south. Unlike domestic plums which suffer many pest issues in the south, Chickasaw plums are relatively bulletproof in terms of pests. Many native peoples across the southeast cultivated wild plums prior to the arrival of Europeans. The chickasaw plum we know today is a result of that relationship. Like many other wild plums chickasaw plums are fire adapted and will resprout with vigor after a fire. They do best with full sun and will thrive in a prairie environment. At most they will reach 15 feet tall although 10-12 feet is more common. Once established they will quickly spread via suckers forming a dense patch. These patches make incredible habitat for all sorts of wildlife. The plums are relatively small compared to domestic plums and typically come in the colors of red and yellow. They are good for fresh eating and for making jams. We are offering field dug suckers from several patched growing at Pandoland outside of Raleigh NC. Check out Project Pando at this link (below) to learn more about this site. 

https://www.leaflimb.com/project-pando/

Beach plums

Beach plum is a low growing native plum species typically found in sandy soils near the coast. Our seed came from several populations of beach plums across NC and NJ. This species is known for its drought resistance. There has been some breeding and selection work done in NJ to explore this species as a commercial fruit. It is common for folks to be very protective of wild patches of beach plum that they find, only telling very close friends the location of the patch. The fruits are highly sought after by foragers and plum enthusiasts.