Chickasaw Plum

The Chickasaw plum (Prunus angustifolia) is a small, native North American tree that produces fragrant white flowers in early spring and small, tart fruits that ripen from yellow to red in summer. The fruit is edible, can be eaten fresh or preserved, and is a food source for wildlife. It is a fast-growing, low-maintenance plant that can be used for screens, windbreaks, and hedges, and prefers full sun and sandy soil.

Description

• Appearance: A small, shrubby tree that can grow 10 to 25 feet tall, often forming thickets with thorny branches. It has a rounded, sometimes unkempt-looking crown.

• Flowers: Fragrant, white flowers appear in early spring before the leaves emerge.

• Fruit: Small, round plums that are initially yellow and mature to a tart, red-skinned fruit in late summer.

• Leaves: Oblong to lanceolate, shiny dark green on top, and lighter underneath. 

Cultivation and uses

• Growing conditions: Thrives in full sun and a wide range of soil types, preferring well-drained, acidic soil. It is hardy to USDA zones 5-9.

• Uses: Can be planted as a specimen tree or in masses for informal screens, windbreaks, or hedges. It is also a food source for wildlife and a larval host for certain butterflies.

• Maintenance: It is a fast-growing and low-maintenance tree that tolerates drought and poor soils. Occasional pruning can improve its form. 

Historical and medicinal uses

• Cultivated by Native American tribes for food (fresh, dried, or preserved).

• Some tribes used parts of the plant, such as boiled root bark, to treat ailments like canker sores and diarrhea.