Description
Native plums are thicket species, forming dense, clusters of thin trunks instead of a single, thicker one. Their early spring bloom time is crucial for the survival of native bumblebees, whose queens seek out plums for their nutritious pollen. Beyond being beautiful, the flowers smell of honey and are the perfect foil to a neighbor’s bradford pear. The leaves are host to hundreds of species of caterpillar, and a variety of songbirds nest in the security of the thorns. White-tailed deer love both the leaves and the fruit.
The fruit is traditionally dried by many Indigenous cultures, enhancing the sweetness and allowing for extended storage.
These trees need as much sun as you can give them, and prefer moist and sandy or rich soils. They spread via suckers, and will form an attractive thicket over time- which is why they’re popularly used for windbreaks and to control erosion.
