Wild Plum Tree – Prunus americana – Bare Root Live Plant – 2-3 ft Tall – Outdoor

Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with the Wild Plum Tree, scientifically known as Prunus americana. This versatile and resilient bare root live plant is a fantastic addition to nearly any landscape, providing both ecological benefits and a bountiful harvest. Often referred to as the American Plum tree or Native Plum, this deciduous tree offers year-round interest, from its delicate white spring flowers to its sweet-tart fruit in late summer. Shipped in a dormant state, this 2-3 ft specimen is ready to establish itself and thrive, transforming your garden into a vibrant, productive space. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, the Wild Plum Tree is an excellent choice for its adaptability and dual appeal.

The Prunus americana plant grows as a large shrub or small tree, typically reaching a mature height of 20-30 feet, making it suitable for various garden sizes and landscape designs. Its hardiness and low maintenance requirements ensure a successful growing experience. Discover the joy of growing your own plums and contributing to a healthier environment with this exceptional tree.

Key Benefits

The Wild Plum Tree offers a multitude of benefits, enhancing both the aesthetic and functional aspects of your garden:

• Ornamental Beauty: In spring, the tree bursts into a spectacular display of delicate white flowers, adding significant visual appeal to your landscape before leafing out.
• Delicious Culinary Fruit: Produces abundant 1-inch diameter plums that are sour and sweet, perfect for eating fresh, making jams, jellies, and even homemade wine.
• Wildlife Support: The fruit provides a valuable food source for local wildlife, and the dense foliage offers shelter, enhancing your garden’s biodiversity.
• Erosion Control: Its shallow, widely spread roots send up suckers, making it effective for stabilizing stream banks and gullies, preventing soil erosion.
• Adaptable & Resilient: Thrives in a wide range of climates (USDA Zones 3-10) and soil conditions, tolerating moist soils and even temporary flooding.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, the Wild Plum Tree requires minimal care, making it an ideal choice for busy gardeners seeking a productive yet easy-to-manage plant.
• Natural Protection: Thorny branches add a natural protective element, deterring unwanted browsing while the tree grows.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Wild Plum Tree is straightforward, ensuring a healthy and productive plant for years to come. This bare root live plant thrives with proper attention to its basic needs. For optimal growth, plant your Prunus americana plant in a location that receives full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Adequate sunlight is crucial for abundant flowering and fruit production. While it can tolerate some partial shade, fruit yield may be reduced.

The American Plum tree prefers moist soils but is adaptable to various soil types. Good drainage is essential to prevent root rot, so ensure your planting site does not retain standing water. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter to improve drainage and aeration. Regarding watering, keep the soil consistently moist, especially during its establishment period and dry spells. Once mature, it is quite drought-tolerant but will benefit from supplemental watering during prolonged dry periods. This hardy plant is winter-hardy, thriving in USDA Zones 3-10. Fertilize annually in early spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer formulated for fruit trees to encourage robust growth and fruit development. Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring to remove dead or diseased branches, improve air circulation, and shape the tree. The Native Plum tree is relatively pest and disease resistant, making it a robust choice for most gardeners.

Size & Details

This offering is for one Wild Plum Tree (Prunus americana) shipped as a bare root plum tree. The plant measures approximately 2 to 3 feet in height upon arrival, ensuring a healthy and well-established specimen ready for transplanting. Bare root plants are shipped dormant, which is the ideal time for planting, allowing them to focus energy on root development once in the ground. The mature height of the Prunus americana plant typically ranges from 20 to 30 feet, growing as either a large shrub or a small tree, depending on pruning and environmental conditions. It has a moderate growth rate, establishing itself quickly and beginning to produce fruit within a few years of planting. The fruit, about 1 inch in diameter, ripens in late summer, providing a delightful harvest. These field-grown plants are intended for direct planting in the ground.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How tall will my Wild Plum Tree grow? A: The Wild Plum Tree typically reaches a mature height of 20-30 feet, making it a manageable size for most gardens and landscapes. Its growth habit can be a large shrub or a small tree depending on how it’s pruned.
• Q: What kind of soil does the American Plum tree need? A: It thrives in moist soils but is adaptable to various soil types. Ensure good drainage for best results to promote healthy root development and prevent waterlogging.
• Q: How much sunlight does the Native Plum tree require? A: This tree thrives in full sun, needing at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to produce abundant flowers and fruit. While it tolerates some shade, full sun is ideal.
• Q: When is the best time to plant my bare root plum tree? A: The ideal planting time for your bare root Wild Plum Tree is in early spring or late fall, allowing the roots to establish before extreme temperatures set in.
• Q: What can I do with the plums from my Prunus americana plant? A: The plums are excellent for eating fresh due to their unique sour and sweet flavor. They are also popular for making jellies, jams, and even wine, offering versatile culinary uses.
• Q: Is this Wild Plum Tree suitable for my climate? A: Yes, the Wild Plum Tree is highly adaptable and is hardy in USDA growing zones 3 through 10, making it suitable for a wide range of climates across the United States.
• Q: What condition will the bare root plant arrive in? A: Your bare root plum tree will arrive in a dormant state, without leaves or soil, which is perfectly normal and healthy for bare root plants. This ensures it’s ready to awaken and grow once planted.
• Q: How long until my Prunus americana plant produces fruit? A: Typically, a Wild Plum Tree grown from a bare root plant will begin to produce fruit within 2-4 years after planting, with yields increasing as the tree matures.
• Q: Is the American Plum tree drought tolerant? A: Once established, the American Plum tree is quite resilient and can tolerate periods of drought, though consistent moisture will lead to better fruit production. It also tolerates temporary flooding.
• Q: Does this tree attract wildlife? A: Yes, the fruit of the Native Plum tree is a favorite food source for various birds and small mammals, contributing to the local ecosystem and attracting beneficial wildlife to your garden.