Chickasaw Plum Prunus Angustifolia 3 Gal

Prunus angustifolia, commonly called Chickasaw plum, is a deciduous native multi-stemmed shrub or small tree which occurs in thickets, pastures, fields, fencerows, and stream banks. Most often seen in the wild as a 4-10' tall, thicket-forming shrub which freely suckers to form large colonies. Infrequently seen as a small short-trunked tree growing to 25' tall. 2-4 flowered clusters (umbels) of 5-petaled white flowers (1/2" diameter) appear along the stems in March before the foliage emerges. Flowers are followed by small, cherry-like, edible, red to yellow plums (to 1/2" diameter) which ripen in early to mid summer. Although the plums may be eaten raw, they are somewhat tart and acidic, and are perhaps best used in preserves and jellies. Toothed, narrow, oval-lanceolate, bright green leaves (1-3" long). Branches and twigs are an attractive reddish-brown and sometimes have thorny lateral branchlets. Native Americans regularly consumed the fruit fresh or dried it for winter.