wild plum tree south africa

Wild plum is found growing naturally in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. The wild plum tree is a large, evergreen tree that grows up to 15 m tall. Branches are curved bowed upwards, with leaves crowded towards their ends, forming a thick crown at the top of the tree.

Is it safe to eat wild plums?

Wild plums can simply be eaten fresh as a raw snack, but are usually cooked as they are quite tart and sometimes even bitter. ... Treat Wild plums as you would other tart fruits such as cranberries, rhubarb, red currants and tart cherries.

How fast do wild plum trees grow?

American plum reaches a height of 12 feet with good growing conditions, but on more restrictive sites it may only reach 6 feet. Sprouts from spreading root systems form thickets up to 35 feet wide. It grows at about 12 to 18 inches per year.
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Soil Information.

Average Height in 20 Yrs:
pH Range:	5-7

Where do wild plum trees grow?

Wild plum grows in almost any soil provided it is freely draining, even alkaline and clay soils. The trees will even produce fruit in partially shady sites. Zones 3 to 8 are suitable for growing wild plums.

What is a wild plum called?

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.

What does a wild plum look like?

Wild plum is a shrub that propagates itself by root sprouts to form thickets, or it can be a small tree with spreading, more or less hanging, branches. ... Twigs are slender, smooth, green to orange to reddish-brown; lateral branches spurlike or sometimes thorny; pores circular, raised, minute buds smooth (without hairs).

Do plum trees spread?

Plum trees (Prunus sp.) are great starter trees for the novice gardener. ... Plum trees are usually vigorous growers with a wide, laterally spreading root system that grows close to ground level, often producing numerous basal shoots or suckers within three feet of the trunk on all sides.

How tall do wild plum trees grow?

Wild plum (Prunus americana) is a shrub or small tree 3-8 m (3- 24 ft) tall, and are usually forming thickets. The small branches are sometimes spiny. The leaves are alternate, egg-shaped to oval, 6-10 cm (2-4 in) long.

What is the best time to plant a plum tree?

It's best to plant plum trees as bare-root trees in late winter or in early spring, while they're dormant—this minimizes the shock of transplanting and encourages the tree to start new spring growth soon after being planted.

How do you kill wild plum trees?

If you want to get rid of all the plum trees (both the parent tree and the suckers), then that can be done by cutting them off and painting the cut surfaces of the cut stems/trunks immediately with concentrated glyphosate (Roundup or equivalent brand).

How do you propagate wild plum trees?

If you have one wild plum and you want more, you can propagate the tree vegetatively by taking stem cuttings. Prunus species are among the easiest to root from cuttings. You can take a dormant hardwood cutting in the winter, softwood cuttings in spring, semi-hardwood cuttings in autumn, or root cuttings.

What is a Chickasaw plum tree?

Chickasaw plum is a short, thickly branched shrub 3 to 10 feet tall, often forming extensive thickets or colonies due to extensive suckering in the western part of its range. In the eastern parts of its range it forms a small tree; height at maturity is 14 to 25 feet.

Do deer eat wild plums?

In addition to the leaf forage, wild plums produce a heavy fruit load most years that is extremely attractive to deer and other wildlife when it ripens in early to midsummer.

Do plum trees grow fast?

Whether the American plum typically grows to 20, 25 or 35 feet tall is a matter of controversy among experts, but all agree that the tree shoots up rapidly. ... The tree spreads sideways with lateral growth as wide as the tree is tall, often producing branchlets with thorns.

Are plum trees easy to grow?

Growing plum trees is not too difficult as long as you give them what they need. Plums require full sun and well-drained, sandy soil in order to thrive. ... Many of the European varieties are self-fruiting, which means that you only need to plant one tree in order to get fruit.

Are cherry plums poisonous?

The seeds (also known as stones, pits, or kernels) of stone fruits like apricots, cherries, plums, and peaches do contain a compound called amygdalin, which breaks down into hydrogen cyanide when ingested. And, yes, hydrogen cyanide is definitely a poison. ... "Still, ingestion should be avoided.

Do wild plums have thorns?

for a garden of native plants, you'll have to put up with prickles, as wild plums have thorny branches -- including the one you'll most likely encounter, the American wild plum (Prunus americana). ...

Can you eat American plum?

The plums are eaten fresh and used in jellies and preserves, and are also consumed by many kinds of birds. Numerous cultivated varieties with improved fruit have been developed. A handsome ornamental with large flowers and relatively big fruit, American Plum is also grown for erosion control, spreading by root sprouts.

What animals eat wild plums?

In season, wild plums are eaten by wild turkeys, raccoons, opossums, skunks, black bears, foxes, coyotes, squirrels, cottontails, and whitetails.

Can you eat Mexican plum?

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.

How do you grow a wild plum tree?

Space plants eight feet within rows and 16 feet between rows for farmstead and feedlot windbreak plantings. Wild plum can tolerate a wide range of soil types from sandy soils to poorly drained soils. Best conditions are a well-drained soil, sunny site for fruit production; however wild plum can tolerate shade.