The Mexican plum is deciduous and the leaves turn yellow in the fall. The Mexican plum is native to the North Texas area. Along with red bud, it is one of the first ornamental trees to bloom in the spring. Its flowers are bright white on bare branches before the leaves appear.

How do you grow Mexican plums?

Mexican Plum should be grown in full sun or partial shade on well-drained, rich soil but will tolerate almost any soil. It is quite drought-tolerant once established. This small tree is well suited for residential landscapes, and is especially popular in Texas.

Do plums grow in Mexico?

Prunus mexicana, commonly known as the Mexican plum tree, is a small fruit tree that is part of the rose family and is native to northern Mexico and the south, central United states.

Can I eat the plums from my plum tree?

The plums produced by the trees often called flowering plums should be very tasty. Some prove to be very tart, but they are good for eating and excellent for making preserves and jellies. Proper selection of fruit varieties may allow you to increase the chances of a crop more frequently.

Are Mexican plums good?

The mature, purplish-red round plums are up to 1” and are edible and can be eaten fresh or used in jams and jellies. However, one must beat the birds and mammals to the plums. A mature Mexican plum with distinct spiraling bark. Although Mexican plum is known for its flowers, the bark is definitely unique and beautiful.

Are Mexican plum trees self pollinating?

It is a monoecious species with perfect flowers ( each flower has both stamens and pistils). Bees are the principal pollinators, and can pollinate the flowers on the same plant. If the plants are self-fertile, fruit will result.

Are Mexican plums messy?

Good fall color, yellow to red to purple; prefers well-drained soils. Problems: Fruits can be messy; borers attack trunk. Some thorns on branches.

How tall do Mexican plum trees get?

Growing 25 to 30 feet tall with a spread of 25 feet, Mexican Plum is a North American native tree which forms an irregular canopy composed of yellow/green, shiny leaves with fuzzy undersides and thorny branches (Fig.

Are Mexican plums toxic to dogs?

Plums are one of several fruits that contain hydrogen cyanide, which is extremely toxic to dogs if eaten. The highest concentration is in the plum pit, but there is also a substantial enough amount in the foliage and roots to cause gastric irritation and possible respiratory distress if eaten.

How fast does a Mexican plum tree grow?

Quick Facts:

Growth Rate: 2′ to 3′ Per Year. Plant Characteristics: Deciduous, white flowering.

Does Mexican plum have thorns?

As a landscape tree, Mexican plums grow to be 20 feet tall and 25 feet wide. Their trunks are extremely coarse-textured with large plates of bark peeling off all through the year. Their leaves are equally coarse-textured, and the branches do have occasional thorns.

Do deer eat Mexican plums?

Fondly called the “long legged hog,” whitetail deer love the Mexican plum. The plum should not be planted without some sort of protection. Humans with weed-eaters are also frequent pests.

Can you plant just one plum tree?

So, if you have space for only one tree, go with a European plum. However, even self-fertile trees will produce better if cross-pollinated with a second tree. Order bare-root, rather than container-grown trees, if possible.

Are any plum trees poisonous?

These parts of the plants contain cyanogenic glycoside or cyanogens that are highly toxic and may be fatal if eaten. Cyanogenic glycosides are changed into free cyanide either in plant material that has been damaged or in the gastrointestinal tracts of animals.

How can you tell if a plum tree is male or female?

If a tree is dioecious it only has male or female parts, not both. If a tree is male and contains flowers, then it has male flowers and produces pollen. Meanwhile, if a tree is female and contains flowers, then it has female flowers and produces fruit.

How do you prune a Mexican plum tree?

As with any tree, remove no more than 25% of the canopy during any five-year cycle. Leave the upper 2/3 of the crown uncut to maintain a healthy specimen never removing more than the lowest third of the tree in a single pruning period. Mulch with about 2″ of wood chips or pine bark wherever possible.