Prunus angustifolia: Chickasaw Plum1
Edward F. Gilman, Dennis G. Watson, Ryan W. Klein, Andrew K. Koeser, Deborah R. Hilbert, and Drew C. McLean2
Introduction
Growing 20 feet tall and wide, Chickasaw plum forms a rounded mass of slender, thorny branches sprouting from a short trunk. In spring, before the one and a half to three-inch-long leaves appear, Chickasaw plum is festooned with small, white, fragrant flowers which make the trees quite decorative in the presence of other trees which are often still dormant. The 0.5-inch-diameter fruits which follow are red, ripening to yellow, and are extremely popular with wildlife and man. The plums are either eaten fresh or used to make a delicious jelly.
Full Form - angustifolia: Chickasaw plum
Credit:
UF/IFAS
[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]
General Information
Scientific name: Prunus angustifolia
Pronunciation: PROO-nus an-gus-tih-FOLE-ee-uh
Common name(s): Chickasaw plum
Family: Rosaceae
USDA hardiness zones: 6A through 9B (Figure 2)
Origin: native to the southern United States
UF/IFAS Invasive Assessment Status: native
Uses: parking lot island < 100 sq ft; parking lot island 100-200 sq ft; parking lot island > 200 sq ft; street without sidewalk; specimen; reclamation; deck or patio; tree lawn 3-4 feet wide; tree lawn 4-6 feet wide; tree lawn > 6 ft wide; highway median; Bonsai
Range
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Description
Height: 12 to 20 feet
Spread: 15 to 20 feet
Crown uniformity: irregular
Crown shape: round
Crown density: moderate
Growth rate: moderate
Texture: fine
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: alternate
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: serrate, serrulate
Leaf shape: elliptic (oval), ovate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaf type and persistence: deciduous
Leaf blade length: 1 ½ to 3 inches
Leaf color: dark green and shiny on top, dull green underneath
Fall color: no color change
Fall characteristic: not showy
Leaf - angustifolia: Chickasaw plum
Credit:
UF/IFAS
[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]
Flower
Flower color: white
Flower characteristics: showy; fragrant; emerges singularly or in dense clusters
Flowering: late winter to early spring, before leaves emerge
Figure 4.
Flower - angustifolia: Chickasaw plum
Credit:UF/IFAS
[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]
Fruit
Fruit shape: oval
Fruit length: 1/2 to 1 inch
Fruit covering: fleshy drupe
Fruit color: yellow to red
Fruit characteristics: attracts birds; showy; fruit/leaves not a litter problem
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/branches: branches droop; not showy; typically multi-trunked; thorns present or absent
Bark: reddish brown and smooth, becoming scaly and shallowly furrowed with age
Pruning requirement: needed for strong structure
Breakage: resistant
Current year twig color: brown
Current year twig thickness: thin
Wood specific gravity: unknown
Figure 5.
Bark, Young - angustifolia: Chickasaw plum
Credit:UF/IFAS
[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]
Figure 6.
Bark, Mature - angustifolia: Chickasaw plum
Credit:Gitta Hasing, UF/IFAS
[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]
Culture
Light requirement: full sun to partial shade
Soil tolerances: clay; sand; loam; acidic; well-drained
Drought tolerance: high
Aerosol salt tolerance: unknown
Other
Roots: not a problem
Winter interest: yes
Outstanding tree: no
Ozone sensitivity: sensitive
Verticillium wilt susceptibility: susceptible
Pest resistance: resistant to pests/diseases
Use and Management
Grown occasionally with a single leader and used as a street tree, Chickasaw plum is usually seen with a multiple trunk planted as a specimen or in a median strip, or planted on 15 to 25-foot-centers along the entrance road to a commercial property. It tends to sprout from the base of the trunk, forming multi-stemmed thickets. This is the form most commonly seen in its native habitat on old fields and on other disturbed sites. It makes a nice addition to the shrub border in the back yard and is well suited for planting around the patio or deck although it does not form a neat crown and looks a little unkempt during the winter. The crown often leans to one side or the other. Occasional pruning can significantly improve the form of the crown.
A North American native tree, Chickasaw plum is very easily grown and has no special cultural requirements. It tolerates drought, sandy or clay soil but does poorly in alkaline pH. These small trees grow quickly but have a relatively short life. This should not stop you from planting the tree since it will serve the landscape well during its life.
Propagation is by seed or cuttings.
Pests and Diseases
No pests or diseases are of major concern. Tent caterpillar can defoliate trees and could weaken them with repeated defoliations.
Reference
Koeser, A. K., Hasing, G., Friedman, M. H., and Irving, R. B. 2015. Trees: North & Central Florida. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Footnotes
This document is ENH-663, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date November 1993. Revised December 2018. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.
Edward F. Gilman, professor emeritus, Environmental Horticulture Department; Dennis G. Watson, former associate professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department; Ryan W. Klein, graduate assistant, Environmental Horticulture Department; Andrew K. Koeser, assistant professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center; Deborah R. Hilbert, graduate assistant, Environmental Horticulture Department, GCREC; and Drew C. McLean, biological scientist, Environmental Horticulture Department, GCREC; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other UF/IFAS Extension publications, contact your county's UF/IFAS Extension office.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A & M University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, dean for UF/IFAS Extension.
