Flatwoods plum is a valuable food source to whitetail deer, black bears, foxes, raccoons, squirrels, and many birds. Chickasaw Plum, a scrubby multi-stemmed bush, spreads by underground suckers and stems to form dense colonies. Posted by Jefferson on 20th Nov 2019 Plants arrived in great condition. Want to try the fruit? A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR THE FLORIDA WILDFLOWER FOUNDATION, A FLORIDA-BASED NONPROFIT CORPORATION (REGISTRATION NO. It typically blooms in March, at which time the entire crown is covered in umbels of delightful white blooms that attract a variety of pollinators, especially bees. The flowers are very attractive to a wide range of pollinators. Dried plums are called prunes, which have a dark, wrinkled appearance. Chickasaw wild plum. Reviews. Flatwood plums are round and purple, with a diameter of .5 to 1 inch. Flatwoods plum is a deciduous large shrub to small tree found in hammocks and woodlands throughout North and Central Florida. If you’re not familiar with this plum variety, you are not alone – they usually grow in the wild. That’s why you’ve never seen them at a grocery store! In prunus umbellata trees, the hydrogen cyanine makes the fruit bitter and makes the tree and its leaves toxic. They ate them themselves (seed or no seed) and fed them to the livestock. When placed in sandy soil, it grows best with irrigation and some shade in the afternoon. The species epithet umbellata refers to the umbellate or umbrella-shaped flower clusters. Shade isn’t essential- it can grow without the shade, but it needs to be in a place where it can get about 2-6 hours of sunlight. To pick flatwood plums, Native Americans grabbed hold of the branch with the fruit on it, the plum with the other hand, twisted the plum gently, and pulled it off. A plum is a fruit of some species in Prunus subg. If you live in a cool place like Minnesota, plant a flatwood plum in the summer but bring it inside in the winter. The plant contains trace amounts of cyanogenic compounds, with higher concentrations in the leaves and seeds. Honestly, I don’t give a crap which one it is, as long as the fruit tastes good, because they are all equally edible; however, the Flatwood is known to be somewhat bitter on occasion. Planters have to provide a hog plum tree with plenty of room to grow because their roots spread out 15 feet. Photo by Grace Howell. Flatwoods have only a few root suckers, while Chickasaws have many. Flatwoods plum is often available at nurseries that specialize in native plants. A flatwood plant’s growth rate to fully mature is 5 to 6 years, then it may start producing, but the tree doesn’t have very many bountiful seasons. The Species: Prunus Americana is just one of several species of native plums. It does not sprout seeds readily. The p… The flower color varies from the color white to cream to gray. Posted by Alan on 9th Oct 2020 ... Chickasaw Plum. Of course, you can eat them right off the tree in small quantities. Prunus umbellate needs a cross-pollinator of a similar variety. 1). These plants are pretty easy to keep alive once you know how to care for them, but they won’t be happy in cold environments. The Golden Plum tree is a unique variety with yellow fruit that taste deliciously sweet! Flatwoods plum is also known as Hog plum, a reference to its historic use as a livestock food. Mature plum fruits may have a dusty-white waxy coating that gives them a glaucous appearance. Flatwoods Plum1 Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson2 INTRODUCTION A native of the woods of the southeastern United States, Flatwoods Plum is a round-topped, deciduous tree, reaching 20 feet in height with a 15-foot spread, that is most often planted for its spectacular display of blooms (Fig. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. Chickasaw plums, cherry plum, or some other flatwood plum trees would work well. You search, Good Search gives for wildflowers. Flatwoods aren’t always available, so if you see some at a local market, try a few and see how you like them. The Flatwoods tree’s flowers put on a show. To see where natural populations of Flatwoods plum have been vouchered, visit, A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR THE FLORIDA WILDFLOWER FOUNDATION, A FLORIDA-BASED NONPROFIT CORPORATION (REGISTRATION NO. Here is how to tell apart a Chickasaw plum and a Flatwood plum. Don’t worry. If you have skinny leaves it is either the Chickasaw or Flatwood. If you have skinny leaves it is either the Chickasaw or Flatwood. The Chickasaw Plum can be hard to distinguish from the American Plum (Prunus americiana) as well as the Flatwood Plum (Prunus umbellata). Did you hear the word “cyanide” and panic? The fruit will always come back next year! Trees grow quickly when young but considerably slower when mature and bearing fruit. Chickasaw plum Rosaceae Prunus angustifolia Marshall symbol: PRAN3 Leaf: Alternate, simple, oblong to lanceolate, fine rounded gland-tipped serrations, 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, shiny dark green above, dull and lighter beneath. Flatwoods plum should work fine. Native Americans were the first to discover prunus umbellata growing in the shade of the woods. Chickasaw plums are edible, and you can use them for the same purposes. Fruits are cherry-like yellow to reddish drupes that turn purple to black when mature. The Flatwoods Plum is a Florida native. Don’t swallow the pit of a flatwood plum- this is where most of the toxicity is concentrated. Any of the ‘Gulf’ series of hybrid plums will do, and since it is a hybrid, it can be pollinated by another ‘Scarlet Beauty’, or even one of the two American natives, Chickasaw plum (P. angustifolia) or flatwoods plum (P. umbellata). However, the two species can hybridize. Prunus. Posted on Last updated: February 16, 2021 By: Author Grace. 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 months of February, March, April and May, the tree has fragrant, small-white blossoms with reddish-orange antlers. The 0.5-inch-diameter fruits which follow are red, ripening to yellow, and are ex… Figure 1. One of the most common species of plum in Texas goes by several common names, including wild plum, sand plum and Chickasaw plum. March's tree of the month is the Flatwoods Plum, Prunus umbellata. If you want to learn how to tell flatwood plums and chickasaw plums apart, what flatwood plums looks like, how to use them, and more, keep reading! The Chickasaw is con-sidered a weedy native. Flower: Small (1/3 inch), 5 white petals, reddish orange anthers, appear in clumps in early spring before the leaves. If you have pigs, they’ll be sure to think the “hog plums” are treats! It’s the perfect tree for landscaping because it is easy to maintain and grows beautiful flowers. Flatwood plants are tough and can handle a lot. Leaves are simple, lanceolate © Florida Wildflower Foundation, Inc. In the eastern parts of its range it forms a small tree; height at maturity is 14 to 25 feet. 5 Great value. But where exactly does the plum come from? Fast Growing Trees is our choice to find amazing plum trees so that you can grow delicious plums at home. Even when they’ve been on the tree ripe for a month, they remain firm because they are naturally dry. It is armed with long, sharp thorns. Weekly plant profile of Florida Favorites. 5 Beautiful trees. They turn yellow in fall before dropping. Even so, in small quantities, it improves digestion, stimulates respiration, and is actually found healthy. Browse pictures and read growth / cultivation information about Flatwoods Plum, Black Sloe, Hog Plum (Prunus umbellata) supplied by member gardeners in the PlantFiles database at Dave's Garden. Figure 1. Scientific name: Prunus umbellata Synonyms: Hog plum If you plant Chickasaw Plums, you will enjoy thousands of little Chickasaws sprout-ing everywhere, every year. Sometimes a hog plum can grow as a shrub. Its small sweet-tart fruits are pinkish-red to yellow with an extremely juicy golden flesh that will burst in your mouth. Flatwoods Plum thrives in full sun or partial shade on a wide variety of soils. When flatwood plum plants are used as street trees, they are used more for decoration and must be pruned accordingly. What exactly is a flatwood plum? The bloom time is short, lasting only a month or so, but leads to an abundance of summer and fall fruits that provide food for birds and other wildlife. Hi, I have limited space and will definitely be planting beach plum (Prunus maritima). They learned to make desserts like jellies and jams and pies using hog plums. Furthermore, the plants are wild and resistant to diseases and most pests (but small critters like caterpillars can always be a problem.). It may look a little ragged in winter. If you plant a flatwood plum in a warmer environment like Texas, you should plant it in the winter. Florida Wildflower Foundation Office 225 S. Swoope Ave., Suite 110, Maitland, FL 32751 • 407-622-1606. Both Flatwoods Plum, Prunus umbellata , and Chickasaw Plum, Prunus angustifolia , burst into large clusters of tiny, five-petaled white flowers by mid-January locally and later further north. You can tell the flatwoods plum by its overall structure. These compounds can be toxic if ingested in large quantities. With just the right amount of sugar, Flatwoods are perfect for jellies and jams. The flowers on flatwoods are smaller. Other wild plum varieties exist, including chickasaw plum (P. angustifolia), flatwoods plum (P. umbellata), wildgoose plum (P. munsoniana), Mexican plum (P. mexicana), and many more; managers should plant according to what is endemic to their area. A few similarities between Chickasaws and Flatwoods are that they both: Still can’t tell the trees apart? The leaves are also beautiful, which are green and turn yellow in fall. Flatwoods have a deeper red color once they are fully ripe. Family: Rosaceae (Rose family) Flatwoods plum does best in moist soils with afternoon shade, but is tolerant of drier soils and sun. Also known as a Sand Plum, Sandhill Plum and Mountain Cherry, this is a versatile plant. The plums are also edible to humans, but tend to be more bitter than sweet and are best made into a jam or jelly. Flatwoods plum flowers are five-petaled and white with many obvious yellow anthers. Flatwood plums are a little-known gem for the home orchard. Its USDA- hardiness zones are 8A, 8B, and 9A. They both have pure white blooms that open before the leaves. There are several species of native American wild plums that bloom very early in the spring. The tart plums can be eaten fresh or turned into tasty jelly, and they’re also enjoyed by wildlife. Grocery stores and most plant nurseries don’t sell them, but if you want to grow flatwood trees, you can find them for sale online. Early 1800s settlers of North America depended on the hog plum, their name for Flatwoods. While prunus umbellata can grow in many types of environments, they are native to East Texas. Our favorites are Chickasaw plum (Prunus angustifolia) and Flatwoods plum (P. umbellata). $10.00. Flatwoods Plum Tree. The Chickasaw and the American go on to produce consistently edible plums whereas the Flatwood’s fruit can range from extremely bitter to sweet. The Florida Wildflower Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization; contributions are tax deductible. Reaching a maximum height of only 15 feet, a flatwood plum tree is pretty short. Flatwoods contain a chemical called hydrogen cyanide, making the fruit taste too bitter when you first bite into it. Leaves are simple, ovate to elliptic and 1 to 2 inches long with serratemargins and alternate arrangement. There are too many similarities to know which is which off hand. It was originally cultivated by Native Americans before the arrival of Europeans While Prunus is the classical name for European plums, angustifolia refers to its narrow leaves. The plant doesn’t have a consistent flower bloom time. Hydrogen cyanide is a common acid in the rose family that makes fruit and other sources bitter or tart, like a fresh almond. The American plum (prunus Americana) is a species worthy of the attention of native plant gardeners, wildlife enthusiasts, homesteaders, and even commercial orchardists. How to Use Chickasaw Plum in the Landscape. Prunus umbellata Flatwoods Plum 1gallon. A plum tree that is native to North America, the Chickasaw Plum tree has a scaly-black bark with reddish side branches, and small oval-green leaves. Prunus angustifolia, known commonly as Chickasaw plum, Cherokee plum, Florida sand plum, sandhill plum, or sand plum, is a North American species of plum-bearing tree. Flatwoods aren’t called “sloe” for nothing- they are slow producers. It ranges from southern North Carolina to central Florida and west to central Texas, northward in the Mississippi Valley to southern Arkansas. Flatwoods plum may seem very simple, but the variety often gets mixed up with its sister plum, Prunus angustifolia, even by the experts! The flatwoods plum is a small, native fruit tree that can be found in forests across the Southeastern United States. As for the oranges, all of them unfortunately seem to be susceptible to greening, even the trifoliate orange. A native of the woods of the southeastern United States, Flatwoods Plum is a round-topped, deciduous tree, reaching 20 feet in height with a 15-foot spread, that is most often planted for its spectacular display of blooms. Then the small fruits appear, turning from red to yellow as they ripen. Flatwood plums doesn’t taste like anything else, but is often mistaken for its sister plum the Chickasaw. The bitterness fades to a tart and eventually sweet flavor. The blossoms of the Chickasaw plum tree, shown here, appear in early March. The tree is extended from one trunk, giving way to thin and thorny branches and a crown that sometimes forms thickets. Depit the plum before making jam; just like you would decore an apple before making apple juice. Flatwoods have a deeper red color once they are fully ripe. To distinguish, look for glands at the tips of leaf margin serrations, which are present in Chickasaw, but absent in Flatwoods. Order yours today! The trees can grow up to twenty-five feet tall, but their average range is six to twelve feet tall. Description. Chickasaw plum also tends to flower a bit earlier. The trunk is often bent or curved. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Visit PlantRealFlorida.org to find a native nursery on your area. Click on terms for botanical definitions. The species epithet umbellata refers to the umbellate or umbrella-shaped flower clusters. Chickasaws are much sweeter. Don’t overwater- the plant is native to Texas and does well in dry soil. A flatwood tree wasn’t developed to produce like a Santa Rose or Elephant Heart, so the plums are scattered over the tree. Be sure to plant your flatwood plum tree in acid-neutral soils. It is often confused with its cousin, Chickasaw plum (P. angustifolia). Working for Florida's wildflowers, wildlife and wild places. Posted by Jane Brummer on 12th Oct 2019 Well packed with compostable shredded newspaper. This way, they would be able to get the fruit off without damaging the tree. Family: Rosaceae (Rose family)Native range: Panhandle, north and central peninsulaTo see where natural populations of Flatwoods plum have been vouchered, visit florida.plantatlas.usf.edu.Hardiness: 8A–10ASoil: Dry to moist, well-drained, acidic or alkaline clay, sandy or loamy soilsExposure: Full sun to partial shadeGrowth habit: 10–20’ tall; crown with equal spreadPropagation: Seed (must be stratified)Garden tips: Unlike Chickasaw plum, Flatwoods plum typically does not sucker or form thickets, making it a suitable as specimen or accent plant. You'll appreciate seeing more nesting birds and butterflies visit your yard. Telling these plums apart before they fruit is a bit of a guessing game. Flatwoods plum’s many white blooms put on a spectacular spring show. Chickasaw plum trees have super fragrant white flowers that grow in clusters. If you live in Virginia or Florida, you are sure to find thickets of flatwood plums here and there. Flatwood plums are sold at local farmers’ markets across North America. They did not know that the fruit was toxic in a large quantity, but they probably learned to avoid large portions after a stomachache or two! Don’t worry just yet. The Chickasaw is closely related to the Flatwoods plum family and is part of the same species. This versatility of how The Chickasaw Plum tree can be grown makes it an excellent addition to any front yard or business landscape. They are known as street plants- they show off their flowers and leaves more than their fruits. The trees are beautiful and hardy, which makes them the perfect addition to your backyard. Mature Flatwoods Plum. 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. This is why your flatwood plum tree is such a beautiful addition to your landscaping! Chickasaw plum has atypical growth characteristics compared to other species of plums. The trunk is very thick around, so the thickets almost look like blueberry bushes. The Chickasaw and the American go on to produce consistently edible plums whereas the Flatwood’s fruit can range from extremely bitter to sweet. The flowers bloom on the previous year’s wood and are especially dramatic since they appear before the trees puts out new leaves. Chisholm Germplasm Chickasaw plum in fruit. I'm trying one here this year with nectarine, peach and sweet cherry grafts. This is an epicuticular wax coating and is known as "wax bloom". Chickasaw plums form a rounded mass of slen… Chickasaw plum is a deciduous flowering shrub or small tree that produces profuse blooms before leafing out, making for a spectacular spring display. It is recommended that seeds be removed from the fruits before consuming. Minnetonka Orchards is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. They don't sucker like the chickasaw, which is nice. 1. Learn about other kinds of plums as well! Wild Plum and Chickasaw Plum Wild Plum and Chickasaw Plum Wild Plum Commonly growing as large, dense, thorny thickets with smooth grey bark, the wild plum can grow to a tree up to 15 feet (4,5 m) high with a main stem up to 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter. The angustifolia’s common name is the chickasaw plum. That’s why they’re called “forest plants.” These fruits’ discovery proved helpful because a flatwood plum has many uses, from medicine to decorations. It blooms any time a year- midsummer, mid-autumn, anytime they feel like it. Each spring, Chickasaw plum trees are covered with clusters of tiny, fragrant, white flowers. The term sand plum comes from the fact that it can grow in several soil types but is most at home on sandy sites. CH12319), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE. Flatwoods plum is also known as Hog plum, a reference to its historic use as a livestock food. You can also make them into all kinds of fruit preserved recipes. Perhaps you’ll even want to try these recipes! You may also know the variety as a “hog plum” or a “sloe plum,” mostly because farmers feed these wild plums to their pigs. These two species are so similar, we treat them as one. The hickasaw sprouts from the base of the trunk while the Flatwoods does not. Chickasaws have glandular tips of red or yellow. American Plum grown from seed at age 3! Flatwood plums have a habit of producing large amounts of fruit only every 3 to 4 years, but the plant can last up to 40 years! Chickasaw plum also tends to flower a bit earlier. If you love the flavor of flatwood plum jam, just wait till the fruit is ripe and taste test it. Chickasaw plums only grow through the summer, while Flatwoods plums can grow through fall in specific environments. Photo by John M. Row Alternate Names Sand plum, sandhill plum, sand hill plum, mountain cherry status (e.g., threatened or endangered species, state . Flatwood plums thrive in warm climates and are native to Texas. These animals help disperse the tree's seeds. This deciduous tree reaches heights of only 20 feet but can have wild growth forms offering large canopies for their size. Scientists have proven that the plum is slightly toxic as well. Telling these plums apart before they fruit is a bit of a guessing game. Many thorny branches that sprout from a short trunk are mingled with suckers that grow from the base of trunks. Growing 20 feet tall and wide, Chickasaw plum forms a rounded mass of slender, thorny branches sprouting from a short trunk. Plant the flatwood in a semi-shaded spot and give it a water supply if planted in soil with a lot of sand in it. Uses Chickasaw plum was first cultivated in 1874 (Schopmeyer, 1974). If you’re having trouble finding decorations for a special occasion, the flatwood tree’s beautiful flower clusters and blooms make a perfect display. CH12319), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE HERE. Also known as a sloe plum, hog plum, and prunus umbellata, the flatwood plum variety usually grows in the wild. I'd … However, I may also want to grow either American plum (P. americana) or Chickasaw plum (P. angustifolia), as well. Plum bushes are usually four to eight feet tall and can reach heights of 12 feet. The Chickasaw Plum is a wild native plum that will grow as a single tree or form a thicket if left unmanaged. 21 Plum Recipes That You Can Make At Home, Plum Trees For Sale at Fast Growing Trees, have a crown that forms a thicket or shrub, are native to America and were discovered by Native Americans, have flowers that flower white, cream, or gray. Like the information on Flatwoods? It is found near streams and in moist ground, in the eastern foothills up to 6000 feet (1800 m) Even though the name “hog plum” isn’t beautiful, the tree is a lovely addition to landscaping. Prunus umbellata is the scientific name for the flatwood plum. While flatwood plum trees aren’t known as much for their fruit as their flowers, there are plenty of uses for the plums. Ideally, you should make sure there is a nearby beehive. The flowering Chickasaw Plum is a true ornamental with pretty textured bark and a pleasing branch structure. Their skin is glaucous. Flatwoods plum, also called hog plum, is a small understory tree found in river, swamps, hardwood hammocks, and pine flatwoods. It occurs naturally in dry hammocks, woodland edges, and disturbed areas and roadsides. The tree’s sweet little plums ripen in June and July.