Pre-Order Hortulan Plum (Prunus hortulana) for Fall Shipment
$9.99
Hortulan Plum (Prunus hortulana) is a native "small tree" plum with its distribution centered in Missouri, but with small pockets also in the surrounding states such as Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. This species can handle USDA Planting Zones 6 through 9. Unlike some of its thicket-forming wild...
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Hortulan Plum (Prunus hortulana) is a native "small tree" plum with its distribution centered in Missouri, but with small pockets also in the surrounding states such as Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. This species can handle USDA Planting Zones 6 through 9. Unlike some of its thicket-forming wild plum cousins, the Hortulan Plum typically grows with a tidy, single-trunk habit or with minimal suckering, reaching a mature height of 15-25 feet or so depending on the site they are grown. It is considered a "site plastic" species meaning it can handle everything from productive bottomland soils to drier upland sites.
Hortulan Plum's small but heavy and fragrant white blooms in the early spring almost look like a little cloud in the distance, and they attract all sorts of bees and such who need their nourishment after a tough winter. Its foliage is glossier and than the common look-alike American Plum, providing a more ornamental look throughout the summer before shifting to yellow and orange in the fall. By late summer, the tree will be covered with speckled red and sometimes yellow fruits that are roughly one inch in diameter. These plums offer a sweet-tart flavor that is more nutrient-dense than Asian grocery store varieties, making them a great native choice for homemade jams, jellies, and wines.
The late summer dropping fruits attract deer, other mammals, and birds at a time of year when food is much less abundant on the landscape, making this species a great choice to improve the diversity on your land. It is also a host plant for butterflies and moths like the Red-spotted Purple and various silkmoths. Deer will also readily browse the tender twigs and nutrient-dense summer foliage. To maximize your fruit crop, we highly recommend planting two or more individuals in close proximity to ensure optimal cross-pollination.
***Important note. Due to the overlapping ranges of several similar looking and closely related native plums in their home range such as: Prunus rivularis, Prunus gracilis, Prunus americana, Prunus mexicana, and Prunus munsoniana, it is likely that your seedlings will show traits of hybridization. We examined the parents and our seedlings closely with the aid of texts and dichotomous keys to identify the species, and they most closely resemble Hortulan plum. The most common hybrid traits appear to be with P. munsoniana, aka Wild Goose Plum***
| Zone: | 6 - 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.5 - 7.5. 6.0-7.0 optimal |
| Wildlife Value: | Excellent. |
| Site Preference: | Full sun. Well drained bottomland to upland sites |
| Fruit Maturity Date: | Late Summer |
| Fruit: | Small to medium sized reddish yellow skin. Can be sweet or tart in flavor. Very attractive to wildlife. |
Live plants and seedlings: Orders without a specific ship date selected at check out are shipped via UPS the first shipping day following the day the order is received. In order to ensure our live plants and seedlings are delivered in the best shape we do not ship on Friday Saturday or Sunday. You may select a shipping date up to six weeks from purchase date at check out.