Mexican Plum
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Also known as Mexican Plum, Bigtree Plum, Inch Plum
Prunus mexicana, commonly known as Mexican plum, is a small, upright, non-suckering, usually single-trunked, small tree that may grow to a shrubby 8-15’ tall but most frequently matures 15-25’ tall. It is native from the southeastern corner of South Dakota to Ohio, south to Alabama, Texas, and northeastern Mexico. Trees are also widely cultivated on the West Coast.
The main features of this tree are fragrant, showy white flowers in small clusters that bloom in spring (April – May) before or as the leaves appear, ovate to elliptic, leaves are yellow-green above and soft hairy beneath with double-toothed margins. Edible plums emerge yellow but ripen on the tree from July to September to rose, lavender, or purple. They are covered with a gray-glaucous bloom, smooth reddish-gray bark that matures to blue-gray with a rough texture, darker horizontal striations, exfoliating patches, and yellow, but sometimes a more attractive orange and red fall foliage color.
This tree is a larval host for the tiger swallowtail butterfly and cecropia moth. Birds and mammals consume fruit.
Winter hardy to USDA Zone 6, it is best grown in rich, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Once established, it is drought tolerant.
Butterfly Host Plant: Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
Nectar Source Plant: Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus)
Height: 15’-25’
Spread: 15’-25’
Bloom: April-May
Light: Full sun, Part Shade, Dappled Shade
Water: Medium
Zone: 6, 7, 8
Origin: United States
Winter Shipping: We will continue to ship throughout winter. If you prefer, we are happy to hold your order until spring; please include that request in your shipping notes.
When you order plants from our nursery, you can expect them to arrive in the best possible condition. Our team carefully packs each order using sturdy, biodegradable packaging materials.
Your plants' appearance may vary depending on the season and their current growth stage. We may cut back the leafy growth of some plants to prepare them for shipment and transplanting.
5 Gallon and Up: Any plant purchased to ship over 5 Gallons will be shipped bare root. This means we will remove the plant from its original pot, remove the soil surrounding the roots, and wrap the roots with a biodegradable plastic bag. This reduces weight and the likelihood of damage during shipping.
Once your plants arrive, it is essential to plant them as soon as possible. This will help them rebound and thrive. If you cannot plant immediately, water regularly and keep the roots off heat-conducting surfaces.
Newly transplanted plants often require more water until their roots are well established. Plan to water them 1-3 times weekly for the first few months.
