Chickasaw Plum
Prunus angustifolia
Also listed as Cerasus chicasa, Prunus chicasa
Also known as Sand Plum, Sandhill Plum, Cherokee Plum
Climate Match for your location
See how well Chickasaw Plum grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
A native deciduous shrub producing small fragrant white flowers in spring followed by red to yellow edible plums. Hardy and drought-tolerant once established, valuable for wildlife and human consumption.
Why grow it
Chickasaw plum is smaller and more cold-hardy than many cultivated plum varieties, making it suited to sites where larger types struggle. It produces fruit reliably with minimal pest pressure compared to Japanese or European plums, and its early spring bloom and wildlife value add multi-season interest. The fruit matures earlier than most commercial cultivars and works well for fresh eating, preserves, and wildlife forage.
Watch out for
Fruit ripens over an extended period rather than all at once, requiring multiple harvests if you want to gather most of the crop. Mature plants can sucker vigorously, which may require periodic removal if you prefer a single-stem form. Flowering occurs early enough that late freezes in some regions can damage the bloom, reducing yield.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
South-central United States
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A native deciduous shrub producing small fragrant white flowers in spring followed by red to yellow edible plums. Hardy and drought-tolerant once established, valuable for wildlife and human consumption.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Chickasaw Plum grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Chickasaw plum is smaller and more cold-hardy than many cultivated plum varieties, making it suited to sites where larger types struggle. It produces fruit reliably with minimal pest pressure compared to Japanese or European plums, and its early spring bloom and wildlife value add multi-season interest. The fruit matures earlier than most commercial cultivars and works well for fresh eating, preserves, and wildlife forage.
Watch out for
Fruit ripens over an extended period rather than all at once, requiring multiple harvests if you want to gather most of the crop. Mature plants can sucker vigorously, which may require periodic removal if you prefer a single-stem form. Flowering occurs early enough that late freezes in some regions can damage the bloom, reducing yield.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
South-central United States
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Similar shrubs you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.