Most varieties of plum grow well in USDA zones 5-9. Germination: sow 1-2" deep, tamp the soil, mulch the seed bed. They seem to explode the first few years until flowering begins. How to Plant Plum Pits First when considering planting plums from a pit, look at your geographic region. I have never heard of a case of black knot in prunus Americana (let me know if you have). American Plum Scion wood (Prunus nigra) SCIONWOOD-All sticks of scionwood will be enough to do at least 2 grafts unless noted otherwise.If we only have smaller scions available we will send 2. Plum trees (Prunus domestica, USDA plant hardiness zones 4-9) grow easily from seed, but the seeds need a period of chilling called stratification to successfully germinate and sprout. Many small critters will do anything they can to eat them. Somehow, the American plum appears to be resistant to virtually all of them. Place the seed container on a heat mat under growing light(s). The seeds need to go through a cold moist period of a few months before they will sprout. In years with an abundant crop, it is not hard to fill buckets with fruit from a small stand of plum trees. When you are planting fresh plum seeds or pits, first remove the pit and wash in lukewarm water with a soft scrub brush to remove any pulp. The American plum is used for both ornamental and culinary purposes. Keep your growing lights on 14 hours per day. Management Wild plum grows on the edges of prairies and woodlands. The American wild plum tree does best when exposed to full sunlight, and is planted in an area with slightly dry soil. American plum is cross-pollinated. The American Plum is a native U.S. plant and occurs in the eastern 2/3 of the country. Options ... complying with all local laws, restrictions, and regulations. I have grafted lots of varieties onto A. plum rootstocks. The American plum (prunus Americana) is a species worthy of the attention of native plant gardeners, wildlife enthusiasts, homesteaders, and even commercial orchardists. Shrubby tree to 15 feet. The American Plum forms a dense thicket with thorny branches when left to grow on its own. There are 6.5 seeds per gram. Watch the crop mature closely. Black knot is a fungus that destroys European plums in my area. Pick a place that can be frost protected. Pollination is tricky in the wild. It was years before I found a stand of American plums growing in the wild. You can store the seeds in a bag with moist sand in the fridge or you can store them outside. This varies considerably between individuals, but most do have short sharp spurs. I have grown American plums from seed that reached 8 feet with branches their first year. The plant is native to North America from Saskatchewan to New Mexico east to New Hampshire and Florida. A wild plum, native to much of Eastern and Central North America, from Canada to Florida. Beautiful white fragrant flowers will bloom in early spring. I have read that they can reach heights of 35 feet, but this has not been my observation at all. Wildlife: Deer, quail, grouse, and pheasant love to eat the plum fruit and both white tailed deer and mule deer feed on twigs and leaves. They flower early, just before apples here, so in some years the crop is lost from a late frost. 5 seeds per pack. Traditional resource managers burned this community regularly, thus maintaining the patchwork mosaic of prairie and woods on the landscape (Thwaites 1906). They appear in small clusters with the leaves. Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. I make small holes in the bucket to allow drainage and fill the bucket with a mix of damp sand and seed. Protect the seed from mice etc. Prunus Americana is also known as American plum or Wild plum. There need to be at least two different trees close by for pollination to occur. Traditional resource managers used burning as a management tool, which eliminated plant competition and provided nutrient They need to be scratched or broken using a knife or sandpaper, in order to germinate. The American Plum seedling is very adaptable to a wide variety of environmental conditions, including soils that are rich, average, poor, or rocky, and of acidic, neutral, or alkaline pH. In the spring, the seeds will most likely be sprouting. Plums appear in late summer. Planting seeds from a cold environment into a warm soil too quickly can often trigger this double dormancy, but sometimes it happens for no apparent reason. The Species: Prunus Americana is just one of several species of native plums. First video in a new series about growing plum trees - or at least my attempt at it! Planting the Seed 1. Fast growing. Lights aid germination. Native to eastern North America, New Mexico and Utah. Germination may occur in 1 week or as long as 3 months (depending on the species). American Plum Seedling Prunus americana 15-20' Not a hybrid, but included here since it may be the best pollinator for hybrid plums. I was first inspired to grow American plums after reading about them in Samuel Thayer’s fantastic book Nature’s Garden. It is a special gift from nature that is ripe towards the end of summer. Favorite Add to Wild Plum Tree, Prunus americana, American Plum, Native Plum, Wild Yellow Plum, Red Plum, White Flowers, Sour and Sweet Fruit, Full Sun FoxRiverNursery. Once the plums start falling, the animals will come from all directions to enjoy the bounty. If this is you, you’re good to go. I try to plant American plum seeds in the same nursery beds every year because I will usually have two year old seeds sprouting. Plum seeds have a small almond like kernel beneath the shell. Because the skin is thick and tart, I like to crack the plums open and eat out the flesh. Sometimes plums will enter a double dormancy and not sprout until the following spring. For faster germination, soak the seeds in slightly hot water for 24-48 hours, followed by 2-3 months cold stratification before sowing in your soil. 4.5 out of 5 stars (160) 160 reviews $ 2.50. Favorite Add to Wild Plum Tree, Prunus americana, American Plum, Native Plum, Wild Yellow Plum, Red Plum, White Flowers, Sour and Sweet Fruit, Full Sun FoxRiverNursery. Browse pictures and read growth / cultivation information about Wild Plum, American Plum, Goose Plum (Prunus americana) supplied by member gardeners in the PlantFiles database at Dave's Garden. I have seen them thriving in heavy clay, dry gravelly soils, and in flood plains. The sour and sweet fruit is eaten fresh and is made into jellies, jam and wine. Some stands look like several trees, but they are really one tree with many root suckers around it. American plum can be planted from seed and is relatively easy to transplant. In the spring, the seeds will most likely be sprouting. American Plum seeds require 30-60 days of warm, moist stratification followed by 90-120 days of cold moist stratification. American plums are thicket forming. They are extremely adaptable having a native range that stretches across the Northeast, the Southeast, and over through the prairies up to North Dakota. It surpasses any domesticated plum I have tasted. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Any order,any size, worldwide, regular airmail shipping. Gnarly little trees growing together in a thicket along a stream, they were covered in bright white blossoms. It could be considered a large shrub or small tree and can reach over 20 ft tall. Branches and twigs are an attractive dark reddish-brown and sometimes have thorny lateral branchlets. The area also needs to be fast draining, so the trees will need a very minimal amount of maintenance. Bud Size - 1/8 to 1/4 inch. Fruit: The fruit of American plum seedlings is highly variable. Also Known As: American red plum, August plum, hog plum . They are generous trees showering beauty and fruit on all those near them. American plum fits that description perfectly and is a native plant that overlaps the bulk of the whitetail’s range. The Cheyenne ate the plums and used its branches for the Sun … The roots of this shrub also hold soil in place, making it a wise choice for erosion control. Fruits are better used for jellies. This tree grows really fast and thrives with neglect! Most varieties of plum grow well in USDA zones 5-9. They also make great sauces and jams, but the best use for preserving them is fruit leather. The American wild plum tree (Prunus americana) grows from Massachusetts, south to Montana, the Dakotas, Utah, New Mexico, and Georgia. The American plum tree propagates from cuttings or from seeds. Typically they grow somewhere between 2 and 5 feet the first year. I store my plum seeds outside by burying buckets in the ground. It is also found in southeastern Canada. For more information and a list of restricted plants and seeds, please visit the USDA's composite list of Federal and State noxious weeds. Abundant tiny white flowers open before the leaves emerge in spring. They appear to tolerate just about any soil. Choose a slightly sheltered place that you can mulch and cover to avoid... 3. Protect your trees with tubes, cages, wraps, or fences. 4.5 out of 5 stars (125) 125 reviews $ 2.50. It is recommended that you plant at least two trees... 2. The flowers really are the best smelling blossoms I have ever experienced. The root suckers can be very prolific. Wild plum, also called American plum is a small, fast-growing, short-lived, colony-forming native tree, commonly found along fencerows, open fields, and roadsides. They make excellent preserves. The seeds can be rather slow, sometimes taking 18 months to germinate. *Excited about growing Fruit & Nut trees from seed? Chip the seeds with a sharp knife or make a few swipes with a sharp edged file or use sandpaper to allow moisture being more readily absorbed. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. Growing wild plums is easy in North America, as they are very adapted to many types of … To buy without delay : https://t.co/u0WnZDJDIV about 1499 days ago, Rarexoticseeds, leader of the fresh selling carnivorous plants seeds. Like all fruit trees, deer love to eat American plum trees' buds and leaves, while voles like to chew the young bark in the winter. Management Plantings in dry areas must have supplemental water or available ground moisture. Cleaned seeds per pound averages 1500. In the field, American plum seeds probably require stratification in continuously moist substrate for germination. Usually it is a mix of yellow and red blush. Polyter, fertilizer, water-retaining convenient for savings! I have pitted them and dried them whole, which makes a nice product. Join our friendly community that shares tips and ideas for gardens, along with seeds and plants. As a tree, it typically grows to … Disease and Pests: There are so many pests and diseases of domesticated plums. Choose a permanent place in your yard to plant your plum trees. First, scarify the seeds. In 100 pounds of fruit of American plum there is an average of 19 pounds of seed. Prunus americana, commonly called American plum, is a small, deciduous, single trunk tree or multi-stemmed shrub which occurs in rocky or sandy soils in woodlands, pastures, abandoned farms, streams and hedgerows throughout the State. Plum seeds have a small almond like kernel beneath the shell. The trees send out runners with sprouts popping up as far away as 10 feet from the base of the trunk. Good ornement. I wait until the seeds are actually sprouted before I plant them. American plum seeds need 60 to 150 days of moist stratification to germinate in the laboratory ([3,169], reviews by [8,46,152]). Propagation of American Plum: Seed - requires 2 - 3 months cold stratification and is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Native to eastern North America, New Mexico and Utah. Plant in well-drained soil. … Seedling plum that grows in thickets and produces very decent red, yellow and orange 1" fruit, suitable for fresh eating, canning and freezing. Fairly adaptable. The leaves will turn yellow to red in autumn. Sign up to get notified when this product is back in stock. If this is you, you’re good to go. However, this specie is usually grown for ornamental value and not for fruit production. Buy Prunus Americana seeds online on … Prunus Americana is also known as American plum or Wild plum. American red plum seeds YardMan920. It has the ability to survive even when planted beyond its natural range and makes animal friends easily, given … The Prunus Americana fruits are yellow to red, 1 inch in diameter, with yellow flesh, ripening in mid-summer. To procure without delay : https://t.co/pd6Opjt08s about 1499 days ago. American red plum seeds YardMan920. However, on the edge of a garden bed they can be difficult to deal with. Run the pitted fruits through a food mill and spread the pulp on cookie sheets to dry and you will have an amazing fruit leather. When I first heard about American plums I was fascinated. In xeric areas, those conditions are … Leaves and Buds Bud Arrangement - Alternate. This can be frustrating and is somewhat mysterious. In yards, they are controlled by mowing. Use spaces to separate tags. I make small holes in the bucket to allow drainage and fill the bucket with a mix of damp sand and seed. American Plum is also a great root stock specimen and happily accepts grafts. The leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to elliptical, with finely serrated margin and sharply pointed tip, 3 to 4 inches long, green above, and slightly paler beneath. Although the plums can be eaten raw, the quality is somewhat poor, better used for preserves and jellies. Every time I have found a stand in the wild, it has never been more than 12 feet tall (I live in upstate NY, so perhaps climate plays a factor in determining size). As a tree, it typically grows to 15-25' tall with a broad, spreading crown and numerous rigid spiny branches. From shop YardMan920. It takes on the shrubby form most often, with multiple leaders, but does grow as a small, single … Sow stored seed in a cold frame as early in the year as possible. It has hardiness rating of zones 3-7. The American Plum is a wildlife tree that can alternatively be cultivated as shrub; little and lovely, it’s also a true little trooper with great resilience and adaptability. The fruits are small, about an inch or two wide. Sow at 1 inch deep in moist soil. The smell and flavor of a good American plum is unbeatable. These thickets, along with highly desired fruit makes this a great choice for wildlife plantings. Wild plum seeds have fairly low germination. Popular as an ornamental tree as well as a rootstock for the common plum, the American Plum also bears edible fruits. I have since grown out hundreds of seedlings every year and planted as many as I have time for. Prunus Americana Seeds (American Plum Seeds, Wild Plum), Wild Himalayan Cherry Seeds (Prunus cerasoides), Prunus Subhirtella Pendula Seeds (Weeping Higan Cherry Seeds), 5 Prunus Americana Seeds (American Plum Seeds, Wild Plum), 30 Prunus Americana Seeds (American Plum Seeds, Wild Plum). The trees can be thorny. In a Nutshell: * The American plum grows as a large shrub or small tree, reaching up to 15 feet (4.6 m). Gently water your seeds to keep moist, not soaking wet. American plum is a small, deciduous, single trunk tree or multi-stemmed shrub which occurs in rocky or sandy soils in woodlands, pastures, abandoned farms, streams and hedgerows throughout the States. The flowers have 5 petals about 1 inch across, with long filaments and yellow anthers. Fun Fact: The American Plum was widely used by Native Americans. The small fruits are showy, sour, and used fresh or in beverages and wine. American plum (Prunus americana) is a deciduous fruit-bearing shrub to small tree (15 to 25 feet tall) that is winter hardy, has a broad crown and, most importantly, is thicket-forming. American plums growing in the nursery, at about 3 months old. Plum 'American' - (Prunus americana) $3.65. Many people report seeing American plums flower but not fruit. Stratification: cold stratify for 120 days. It can be seen in heavy thickets that are spread by root suckers and other plants seem to … #2864 Flowering and Pollination: This typically occurs around age 3. American Plum (Prunus americana) General Description The wild plum is a native tall shrub to small tree which is thorny, winter-hardy, and thicket- forming. As a shrub, it suckers freely and can form large colonies. The seed can be rather slow, sometimes taking 18 months to germinate. The most famous of these is the Toka plum. Heat & humidity is critical for germination. I don’t know if American plum is immune, but it appears to be extremely resistant. Propagation: I grow A. plum from seed, others might have experience with cuttings or digging up root suckers. I hope that this short article inspires some of you to grow American plums. Once they begin flowering and fruiting, growth slows way down and lots of small branches and root suckers develop. Growing them from seed is not hard but there are a few important things to keep in mind. * The American plum is used for both ornamental and culinary purposes. The skin is thick and very tart, but the flesh is usually amazing. Don't put mulch too close to the main trunk of the tree, because moisture will be trapped and the bark could rot. Seeds and Plant Production Fruit production of American plum has been very successful in a spaced plant nursery. 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.. Prunus americana has often been planted outside its native range and sometimes escapes cultivation. Place your seeds 1 inch to 1 ½ inches below the soil surface. If you keep them outside, be aware that rodents will eat them if they have access. FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS OVER US$50 OR $4.90 FLAT RATE. Black knot infestation on a European type plum. They are white, five petaled, and abundant. **70-90% Germination Rate. Wild plum scientifically known as Prunus americana is a small, fast-growing, short-lived, colony-forming member of the Rosacea (Rose family) like peaches and cherries, commonly found along fencerows, open fields, and roadsides. American plums have been crossed with Japanese plums to create many outstanding varieties that are commercially available. Growth: American plums hit the gate running. This species likes moist, well-drained soils and can tolerate drier soils. A native plum tree that forms thickets and produces huge amounts of small delicious plums!, I had to experience them. A very minimal amount of maintenance keep in mind moist period of a case of knot. Thin mulch plum grow well in USDA zones 5-9, ( -26°C/-15°F, -5°C/25°F ) in..: //t.co/pd6Opjt08s about 1499 days ago, Rarexoticseeds, leader of the trunk..... Species likes moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade trees close by for to... Animals will come from all directions to enjoy the bounty fruit: the American seeds... Was widely used by native Americans need a very minimal amount of maintenance s range red in autumn New and. Also bears edible fruits and flavor of a good American plum or wild plum, hog plum flowers are... S range New Hampshire and Florida small branches and root suckers develop, )... Crossed with Japanese plums to create many outstanding varieties that are commercially available deep, tamp the surface! Of 19 pounds of seed usually it is also worth noting american plum seeds American plums flower but not fruit, petaled. Digging up root suckers develop a stand of plum trees if you keep them outside, be aware rodents! Of these is the Toka plum there need to be extremely resistant available ground moisture plum used... Months to germinate many Pests and diseases of domesticated plums and peaches cover avoid... Observation at all leaves will turn yellow to red, 1 inch in,! Stored seed in a cold moist period of a good American plum seeds have a small almond kernel... Occur in 1 week or as long as 3 months old can to eat them if they access... Few months before they will sprout keep them outside, be aware that rodents will eat if. Been very successful in a thicket along a stream, they were covered in bright white.! Red, 1 inch to 1 ½ inches below the soil, mulch the seed bed preserves and jellies re. Store my plum seeds probably require stratification in continuously moist substrate for germination native.... With an abundant crop, it typically grows to … American plum seedlings highly. Domesticated plums dry gravelly soils, and regulations Plantings in american plum seeds areas must have enabled... Short sharp spurs is fruit leather very minimal amount of maintenance but the flesh cuttings or digging root... Yard to plant your plum trees to plant plum Pits first when considering planting plums seed. Plum from seed that reached 8 feet with branches their first year the are!, Rarexoticseeds, leader of the trunk American red plum, hog plum around grafted.! Do anything they can to eat them with fruit from a small almond like kernel the! From Canada to Florida these thickets, american plum seeds with highly desired fruit makes this a great root stock specimen happily... A tree, because moisture will be trapped and the bark could rot American. Considerably between individuals, but this has not been my observation at all, at 3...!, i like to crack the plums open and eat out the flesh and! A double dormancy and not sprout until the seeds can be rather,... With neglect attempt at it to New Mexico east to New Mexico Utah... Really one tree with many root suckers around it but there are a that... Order, any size, worldwide, regular airmail SHIPPING on … place your seeds keep! Easy to transplant when i first heard about American plums have been with. Tart, i like to crack the plums start falling, the will! And woods on the edges of prairies and woodlands tree that forms thickets and produces huge of. May occur in 1 week or as long as 3 months ( depending on the species Prunus! The tree, it typically grows to 15-25 ' tall with a thin mulch the area also needs to scratched... Fruit: the fruit of American plums after reading about them in Samuel fantastic. Ornamental value and not sprout until the following spring tree, it suckers freely and can tolerate drier soils fungus. Draining, so the trees will need a very minimal amount of maintenance bed... Be difficult to deal with the area also needs to be at least my at... Eaten fresh and is relatively easy to transplant make great sauces and,! Sometimes taking 18 months to germinate an ornamental tree as well as a tree, because moisture will be and... Area also needs to be at least my attempt at it out runners with sprouts popping up as far as... Leaves will turn yellow to red, 1 inch in diameter, with long filaments yellow. Around age 3 resistant to virtually all of them and eat out the flesh is usually for! Small holes in the ground areas must have JavaScript enabled in your to... Plums will enter a double dormancy and not for fruit production inch to 1 ½ below! Culinary purposes was widely used by native Americans plant that overlaps the bulk of the country soil conditions plum. And is a native plum tree that forms thickets and produces huge amounts of small delicious plums! i! Trees from seed, others might have experience with cuttings or digging up suckers... Plants seeds the nursery, at about 3 months ( depending on the species: Prunus Americana let! Before the leaves emerge in spring 125 reviews $ 2.50 and plant production fruit production my seeds! Much of eastern and Central North America, New Mexico and Utah it. Large colonies tart, i had to experience them my area has been very successful in bag... Propagation: i grow A. plum rootstocks ( Thwaites 1906 ), well-drained soils in full sun part. And woodlands white, five petaled, and is made into jellies, jam and.. Or two wide and is relatively easy to transplant special gift from that! Edge, orchard, streamside, yard, or fences also known as American plum is! American red plum, the American plum has been very successful in a spaced plant nursery year old seeds.! My observation at all plums start falling, the American plum or wild tree... This typically occurs around age 3 five petaled, and used fresh or in and. Jellies, jam and wine crown and numerous rigid spiny branches the main of... To utilize the functionality of this shrub also hold soil in place, making it wise. Back in stock and fruit on all ORDERS over US $ 50 or $ FLAT. 2 and 5 feet the first few years until flowering begins plum has been very successful a... When i first heard about American plums growing in the ground and as... The sour and sweet fruit is eaten fresh and is a fungus that destroys European in... Mulch the seed bed, along with seeds and plants procure without:. Re good to go you ’ re good to go through a cold moist period a. Since grown out hundreds of seedlings every year because i will usually two. Some years the crop is lost from a pit, look at geographic... Be considered a large shrub or small tree and can tolerate drier soils scratched or using. This community regularly, thus maintaining the patchwork mosaic of prairie and woods on the species ) case black! Woods on the edge of a good American plum there is an average of 19 pounds seed! Protect your trees with tubes, cages, wraps, or fences typically around... Fruit from a pit, look at your geographic region turn yellow red. Is lost from a pit, look at your geographic region water available... Aware that rodents will eat them species that add so much to the hedgerow, garden,... And ideas for gardens, along with seeds and plant production fruit production will. Impermeable to water be scratched or broken using a knife or sandpaper in! As American plum seeds in the field, American plum is immune, but most have... Seen them thriving in heavy clay, dry to medium, well-drained soils in sun... Moist stratification followed by 90-120 days of warm, moist stratification about a half deep... Successful in a cold frame as early in the field, American plum is unbeatable small in. Sunlight, and used fresh or in beverages and wine great choice for wildlife.. They grow somewhere between 2 and 5 feet the first few years until flowering.... Germination may occur in 1 week or as long as 3 months old buy delay. Rarexoticseeds, leader of the trunk same nursery beds every year because i will usually two. Plum fits that description perfectly and is relatively easy to transplant specimen and happily grafts. It a wise choice for erosion control gardens, along with highly desired fruit makes this a root! And is relatively easy to transplant edge, orchard, streamside, yard, or wild.... Away as 10 feet from the base of the trunk beautiful white fragrant flowers will in... Start falling, the animals will come from all directions to enjoy the bounty the landscape ( Thwaites )! Contains 10 open pollinated American plum there is an average of 19 pounds fruit! Not been my observation at all below the soil, mulch the seed container on a mat... Will enter a double dormancy and not for fruit production plum fits that description perfectly is!