wild plum - seed (#2)

Wild plum seed is sold in quantities of 20, 50, and 100. Seed requires cold stratification and will exhibit some degree of double dormancy.

There is not much in the native fruit world I love as much as a well-established wild plum thicket. The thicket planted as part of the Feralwood project, where these seed originate, is a multi-species thicket started by seedling trees.

The flowering of this thicket takes place over a two week period in early spring, and there is a great deal of overlap in the flowering of individual trees. As such, these seed may not produce true to any particular species, and may produce hybrids of the eastern US native wild plums.

Known species in the thicket are: Prunus americana (american plum), P. angustifolia (chickasaw plum), and wild goose plum (Prunus hortulana). There is also at least one native hybrid tree.

Wild plum seed should be cold stratified for 60 to 90 days before planting in the Spring. It is good to be aware that some wild plum seed will have double dormancy, meaning they will require two periods of cold stratification (in the wild this is two winters, separated by warm weather) before germination will occur. I see about 25% germination the first Spring, with the rest the following Spring.

If you would like to learn more about wild plums check out this article written by Akiva Silver of Twisted Tree Farm, Growing American Plums, and this article written by Solomon Gamboa of Indigenous Landscapes, Wild Plum Conservation Project

Plant details:
Genus & species: Prunus spp.
Hardiness: Zone 3 to zone 9
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Soil type: Tolerant of a variety of soils
Soil moisture: Average to moist, well-drained, drought-tolerant once established