How big does a Mexican plum tree get?
The Mexican plum grows to a height of 15–30' and a spread of 20–25' at maturity. This tree grows at a slow rate, with height increases of less than 12" per year.
Are Mexican plums native to Mexico?
Prunus Mexicana Mexican plum’s a native, deciduous tree with beautiful, fragrant spring blooms in February and early March. Its white flowers, similar to other fruit trees in the Prunus family, are highly attractive to bees and other pollinators.
How long does it take a Santa Rosa plum tree to mature?
Santa Rosas will mature in three to five years, whereas average plum trees take four to six years to bear fruit. With an advantage like this, it’s not hard to see why gardeners so often choose the Santa Rosa. What Pollinates the Santa Rosa Plum Tree?
Do Mexican plums need sun or shade?
Mexican Plum. CULTURE : Mexican plum is an easy to grow ornamental tree that is drought tolerant, requires little fertilizer and does well in sun or shade. PROBLEMS : A few insects chew on the leaves occasionally but the tree doesn’t have major pest problems when planted in fairly healthy, well-drained soil.
Do plum trees grow fast?
It produces fragrant, five-petaled pale pink to white flowers in the spring that are roughly an inch across, which then turn to small fruits. The elliptical leaves can range in color from purple to green. This tree has a moderate growth rate of about one to two feet per year.
Are Mexican plum trees messy?
This small tree is well suited for residential landscapes. It might be best to locate the tree back from the edge of a patio, deck or walk since the fruits can be a little messy for a short period in the summer or early fall.
Does a Mexican plum tree bear fruit?
In spring, the trees are smothered with fragrant, white blooms which are followed by purple/red, juicy fruits. These tart fruits can be used to make jams and jellies. The blooms help make Mexican Plum ideal for use as a specimen tree but it also fits in nicely in the naturalized landscape as an understory tree.
How long does a Mexican plum tree live?
The tree can be expected to live as little as 15 years, which can present additional landscaping challenges.
Is Mexican plum fast growing?
Growth Rate This tree grows at a slow rate, with height increases of less than 12" per year.
Is Mexican plum self pollinating?
It is a monoecious species with perfect flowers ( each flower has both stamens and pistils). Bees are the principal pollinators, and can pollinate the flowers on the same plant. If the plants are self-fertile, fruit will result. However, two of my botanical colleagues believe that this is not the case.
Do you 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.
How do you fertilize Mexican plums?
For the March application, apply 1 cup of 10-10-10 for each year of the tree up to 12 years. If the tree is 12 years or older, apply only 1/2 cup of fertilizer to the mature tree. In August, apply 1 cup of calcium nitrate or ammonium nitrate per tree year up to 6 cups for mature trees.
Is Mexican plum tree poisonous?
This toxin is found mainly in the leaves and seed and is readily detected by its bitter taste. It is usually present in too small a quantity to do any harm but any very bitter seed or fruit should not be eaten.
Are Mexican plums good to eat?
The mature, purplish-red round plums are up to 1” and are edible and can be eaten fresh or used in jams and jellies. However, one must beat the birds and mammals to the plums. A mature Mexican plum with distinct spiraling bark. Although Mexican plum is known for its flowers, the bark is definitely unique and beautiful.
When should you trim plum trees?
After three or four years the tree will likely be growing tall. Prune back the trunk 12 – 20 inches at a bud each year so fruit and vegetative buds concentrate in the bottom tree branches. Every year, cut out dead, diseased, or damaged branches.
Is Mexican plum native to Texas?
The Mexican plum is deciduous and the leaves turn yellow in the fall. The Mexican plum is native to the North Texas area. Along with red bud, it is one of the first ornamental trees to bloom in the spring. Its flowers are bright white on bare branches before the leaves appear.
Do Mexican plum trees have thorns?
As a landscape tree, Mexican plums grow to be 20 feet tall and 25 feet wide. Their trunks are extremely coarse-textured with large plates of bark peeling off all through the year. Their leaves are equally coarse-textured, and the branches do have occasional thorns.
Is Mexican plum tree poisonous?
This toxin is found mainly in the leaves and seed and is readily detected by its bitter taste. It is usually present in too small a quantity to do any harm but any very bitter seed or fruit should not be eaten.
Are Mexican plums good?
The mature, purplish-red round plums are up to 1” and are edible and can be eaten fresh or used in jams and jellies. However, one must beat the birds and mammals to the plums. A mature Mexican plum with distinct spiraling bark. Although Mexican plum is known for its flowers, the bark is definitely unique and beautiful.
Where do Mexican plum trees grow?
The Mexican plum is native to the North Texas area. Along with red bud, it is one of the first ornamental trees to bloom in the spring. Its flowers are bright white on bare branches before the leaves appear.
How tall is a Mexican plum tree?
Its white flowers, similar to other fruit trees in the Prunus family, are highly attractive to bees and other pollinators. At maturity, Mexican plum’s about 20-25′ tall, with spreading branches, perfect for smaller gardens.
Can Mexican plum trees grow in shade?
Mexican plum likes sun, but can take some shade as an understory tree. Although it’s drought tolerant, additional irrigation helps it to hang onto the small fruits that ripen in fall. Birds love to dine on the small fruits, be we can make jams and jellies out of it, too.
Where Can Plum Trees be Grown?
The limiting factor associated with growing Plums, that actually produce fruit, is the period of time a tree is exposed to cold in Winter. This is sometimes referred to as the chill hours and is the minimum number of hours a tree requires to be exposed to temperatures below 7 ° C (45 ° F).
Why do plum trees need sheltered locations?
When selecting a location to plant, it is best to select a sheltered location if you live in an area prone to late frosts. The reason for this, is that a hard frost will kill the blossom. In these regions, it is also advisable to protect Plum Trees with Horticultural Fleece if a frost is forecast.
Are Plum Trees Self Fertile?
There are some self-fertile Plum Trees that do not require po llination from a second tree. However, the size of harvests is often higher if there is a second tree present. For successful cross pollination to occur the Plum Trees must bloom at the same time. As European and Japanese Plum Trees flower at different times, 2 of the same type of Plum, is required.
What is the Mexican plum tree?
Wildlife Value. The fruit of the Mexican plum is eaten by several species of bird. Its blossoms provide food for insects such as bees. The tree itself provides nesting sites and materials for birds as well.
What zone do Mexican plums grow in?
The mexican plum can be expected to grow in Hardiness Zones 6–8. View Map
How much sun does a sage tree need?
Full sun is the ideal condition for this tree, meaning it should get at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.
When do sage plants produce white flowers?
Produces showy white flowers in February and March.
Can Mexican plum trees grow in Texas?
Mexican Plum should be grown in full sun or partial shade on well-drained, rich soil but will tolerate almost any soil. It is quite drought-tolerant once established. This small tree is well suited for residential landscapes, and is especially popular in Texas.
What is a Mexican plum tree?
IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION : Mexican plum is a good-looking ornamental tree with white spring flowers, orange fall color, beautiful exfoliating bark and an irregular branching structure.
How tall do plum trees grow?
These trees grow from 15 to 20 feet and are one of the easiest of the fruit trees to grow. Check the appendix for the Basic Organic Fruit Tree Program.
What does a tree look like when it's young?
BARK : Tight and metallic gray when young becoming scaly and rough with age. Older trees have lovely brown papery exfoliating or scaly bark. Mature bark becomes very rough and deeply furrowed.
What is a purple plum?
Purple plum – Prunus cerasifera is a purple foliage ornamental tree that has pink blooms in the spring. I no longer recommend this plant anymore because it just simply doesn’t live long enough to be a good investment. NOTES: Wonderful tree, being used more and more. Smaller-growing hog plum is less desirable.
What fruit trees grow well in Texas?
Check the appendix for the Basic Organic Fruit Tree Program. Plums, like other fruit trees grown in Texas as food crops, have a variety of insect and disease problems when the soil is not healthy, Healthy soil is the key. Some of the best varieties for Texas are ‘Methley’, ‘Morris’, ‘Bruce’, and ‘Santa Rosa’.
How long does it take to transplant a tree from the wild?
PROPAGATION : Primarily from seed planted fresh immediately after harvest in the fall, seed can be cleaned and stratified at 41 degrees for 60 to 90 days before planting in the spring.
Is Mexican plum a good ornamental tree?
CULTURE : Mexican plum is an easy to grow ornamental tree that is drought tolerant, requires little fertilizer and does well in sun or shade. PROBLEMS : A few insects chew on the leaves occasionally but the tree doesn’t have major pest problems when planted in fairly healthy, well-drained soil.
How long does it take for a Santa Rosa plum tree to mature?
Santa Rosa Plum trees have a one-year advantage in maturation time over the average plum tree. Santa Rosas will mature in three to five years, whereas average plum trees take four to six years to bear fruit.
How Big do Santa Rosa Plum Trees Grow?
Santa Rosa plum trees are a hardy variety with a hefty height potential. They can grow up to 25 feet with adequate nutrition, but orchards usually choose to prune them to keep the fruits in reach.
What Pollinates the Santa Rosa Plum Tree?
With the Santa Rosa plum tree, you don’t have to worry about this. Santa Rosas pollinate all on their own. For this reason, they make a spectacular standalone fruit tree for a smaller yard.
Do Santa Rosa Plums Fruit on New Wood?
Yes, Santa Rosa plums fruit on new wood, and it is crucial to keep your tree properly pruned for maximum fruit production. To do this, simply prune the upper sections of your branches each year.
Do Plum Trees Bear Fruit Every Year?
No, plum trees do not produce fruit every year, and Santa Rosas are no different. Luckily, failures to bear fruit are often the result of repairable factors like weather, insects, and disease. There are certain things you can do to keep your plum trees fruiting relatively reliably.
Where do Santa Rosas grow?
Santa Rosas grow in USDA zones 5-9. This means they get the right mixture of chill hours and warmth in regions from the lower end of New York to the lower end of Florida. Growing outside of these regions can complicate the growth process irreparably. Lastly, plum trees need to be pruned to encourage fruiting.
What are some good things to do with plums?
Plums: they’re a tasty, sweet addition to your kitchen. They make healthy snacks, go well in baked goods, and if you’re adventurous, can be canned and enjoyed all year. If you’ve ever considered buying a plum tree, you’ve probably considered the famous Santa Rosa.Â
How big do Methley plums grow?
Dwarf sizes grow to 8 – 10 feet. Methley has medium-sized fruits with juicy red flesh making them great for fresh eating. It does well in zones 6-9. Shiro Plum – Shiro plums are a beautiful yellow color which looks lovely next to their olive green leaves. They are highly productive but sensitive to cold.
How much sun do plums need?
Plums need a location in full sun, with about 6-8 hours of direct light per day.
Why do you plant lavender around plum trees?
Planting lavender around your plum trees can help protect them from plum moths and other worm pests which eat on the fruit. Growing plums with comfrey is also smart. The long tap root brings up needed nutrients from the soil and makes them available for your plum. The flowers also attract pollinators.
Why do European plum trees need to be pruned?
Pruning stimulates your tree to grow and helps shape your tree to benefit fruit production. European plums are an upright tree and use the central leader method of pruning. A central leader will have one strong trunk up the center and be in the shape of a pyramid. Prune to encourage lateral branches off the sides.
What are plums called?
Like peaches and apricots, plums are stone fruits – also known as drupes. They’re delightful fresh off the tree, used in savory recipes, or baked into desserts.
What causes plums to drop off the tree?
This brownish grey, small beetle causes a lot of damage. Adults lay eggs inside the plum. When the eggs hatch they tunnel into the fruit. This often causes the plums to drop off the tree prematurely.
What are the different types of plums?
There are tons of plum varieties to choose from. Plums are typically categorized by European, Japanese, hybrid and American types. Each has its advantages.
