Prunus angustifolia

Common Names

Chickasaw Plum, Sandhill Plum, Sand Plum, Cherokee Plum, Florida Sand Plum, Mountain Cherry

Summary

Chickasaw plum, Prunus angustifolia, is a North American native shrub or small tree that often forms dense thickets by suckering, typically growing 12 to 20 ft tall and 15 to 20 ft wide, with thorny branches and small elliptic to lanceolate leaves 1 to 3 inches long. It flowers in late winter to spring (February to April) with white, fragrant blossoms before the leaves, followed by edible red to yellow drupes about 0.5 to 0.8 inches in diameter that ripen June to August. It prefers full sun to part shade and well-drained soils, including sandy to loamy textures, and is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. Drought-tolerant once established, it readily forms thickets via suckering and can be used for screens, windbreaks, erosion control, and wildlife habitat, the fragrant early blooms and edible fruit add ornamental and food-value in landscapes, with fruit used in jams and jellies or eaten fresh.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-25 feet

Spread

15-20 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun or partial shade.

Soil Type

Sandy soils

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

Acidic to neutral; avoids strongly alkaline soils.

Bloom Color

White (off-white to yellowish-white)

Bloom Time

Spring (March–April)

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green, No fall color change

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Medium

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering, Division (root suckers)

Attracts Wildlife

Bees attracted, butterflies attracted, other pollinators attracted, birds attracted