Prunus angustifolia aka Cherokee Plum

Prunus angustifolia, or Chickasaw plum, belongs to the rose family. It is native to the central and eastern United States. This deciduous shrub can also grow as a small tree. It grows in fields, thickets, stream banks, and disturbed ground. Root suckers help it form dense patches with many stems. Garden plants reach about 12–20 feet [3.7–6.1 metres] tall. They can spread to 20 feet [6.1 metres] wide. Smaller wild shrubs stand 4–10 feet [1.2–3 metres] tall. Some trees reach 25 feet [7.6 metres]. RHS gives a broader upper size of 26 feet [8 metres].

The crown is rounded but may lean to one side. Thin branches can droop, and some bear short thorns. Young bark is red-brown and smooth, with pale, long lenticels. Older bark grows scaly and develops shallow grooves. The simple leaves grow in an alternate pattern along stems. They are narrow, green, and edged with fine teeth. Their upper sides shine, while their lower sides look dull. Fall leaves give little color before they drop.

Small white flowers open before the leaves in early spring. March to April is the reported bloom period. Each flower has five petals, and blooms may form clusters. The flowers have a scent and supply nectar for pollinators. Small, fleshy plums follow, with red or yellow skins. Fruit appears from May to July in North Carolina. RHS reports ripe fruit later in summer. People can eat the tart flesh raw or make jelly. Native Americans also dried the fruit for winter use. Leaves and pits contain poisonous cyanide compounds. Chewing or crushing the seeds increases the danger. Do not blend fruit with its pits still inside.

Grow this plum in sun or partial shade. It needs soil that drains well and favors moist ground. It also withstands drought and grows in clay, loam, or sand. Sources disagree on how well it handles alkaline soil. Reported hardiness spans USDA zones 5–9; RHS rates it H4. Remove root suckers to limit spread beyond the planting site.

Use it for loose hedges, screens, shrub borders, or wild areas. Its roots help hold soil along stream banks. Thickets shelter birds and small mammals throughout the year. Wildlife eats the fruit, and butterfly larvae feed on it. Serious pests are not routine, but fruit can suffer brown rot. Plum curculio can also damage the crop. Aphids, scale, borers, and tent caterpillars may attack plants. Disease risks include canker, leaf spot, black knot, and silver leaf.