Florida's Native Plum Trees
Florida is home to four species of native wild plum. Of these, three -- the scrub, chickasaw and flatwoods plums -- are found mainly in central Florida. The fourth is the American plum, which tends to be found in the north of the state. The state's native plums are ideally suited to the climactic conditions of the area. For this reason, anyone who lives in Florida and wants to cultivate plums themselves should consider growing these species before looking at others. Does this Spark an idea?
-
Scrub Plum
-
This rare plum is native to scrubby areas in central Florida. It is so rare as to be listed as endangered. It grows best in sandy soil, and needs good drainage to thrive. In the wild, it performs an important function as cover for small wildlife, as its branches grow over each other in a crossing pattern. It has small leaves and flowers. The flowers appear in early spring, and then fruit in early summer. The fruit of the scrub plum is thought to be the sweetest of the Florida native plums.
Chickasaw Plum
-
The chickasaw plum is found in many areas of Florida. It is common throughout the central area of the state, and is also sometimes found in the northern area. It is able to grow well in salty and sandy soils in coastal areas. It is a tall plum, growing up to 20 feet high, and normally grows with several trunks. It makes a good plant to use as a privacy hedge due to its height and density. It flowers in early spring and fruits in early summer, although its fruit is not sweet and is better for making jelly than eating raw.
-
Flatwoods Plum
-
The flatwoods plum grows as a single trunked tree that reaches up to 15 feet in height. It is difficult to find in nurseries and rarely cultivated, but it can be grown successfully. It should not be grown in coastal areas as it is intolerant to salt. It produces quite sharp tasting fruit that is not good for eating, but can be made into jelly.
American Plum
-
The American plum is found mainly around the Gainesville area. It grows to form thickets, and is more shrubby than it is tree-like. It grows to around 10 feet high. It produces white flowers which then mature into reddish yellow fruits. These are fairly sour and best used for making jellies and preserves. The American plum makes a good border or windbreak plant in commercial and recreational environments, but is not ideal for home gardens as it propagates itself prolifically.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
