Prunus mexicana aka Mexican Plum

Prunus mexicana, or Mexican plum, belongs to the rose family. Its native range spans the central and southeastern United States into northeastern Mexico. It grows in woods and thickets, including those across Missouri. This small tree loses its leaves in fall. Garden trees most often reach 15–25 feet [4.6–7.6 metres]. Some stay shrubby at 8–15 feet [2.4–4.6 metres]. Others reach 30 feet [9.1 metres]. The crown can spread to 25 feet [7.6 metres].

The tree may have one trunk or several stems. Its crown spreads, and it does not produce suckers. Stiff branches bear slender, red-brown twigs, some of which become thorns. Young bark is smooth and reddish gray, with many horizontal lenticels. Older bark forms rough ridges and peels in curled strips. The oval leaves have toothed edges and sharp tips. Their undersides are paler, with hairs at least along the veins.

Small clusters of scented white flowers open in spring. Missouri Botanical Garden gives the bloom season as April to May. Flowers appear before the leaves or as they unfold. Each flower has five petals and yellow anthers. Round, fleshy plums ripen in late summer. Their skins range from yellow to reddish purple, with a waxy coating. People eat the fruit fresh or make preserves and jelly. The tree also draws birds. Fallen fruit can make paths and patios messy.

Grow Mexican plum in full sun or part shade. The RHS recommends full sun and soil with moderate fertility. It accepts sand, loam, clay, and chalk across a broad pH range. Give it well-drained soil and moderate water. Moist soil suits it, but drainage remains important. Missouri Botanical Garden lists USDA zones 6–8; the RHS rates it H6. Its flowers and fruit give it value as a landscape tree. The RHS suggests it for courtyards and informal gardens.

Missouri Botanical Garden reports no serious pest or disease problems. The RHS lists several possible threats, including caterpillars and leaf-mining moths. Diseases can include peach leaf curl, silver leaf, and bacterial canker. Blossom wilt and honey fungus may also occur. Where silver leaf poses a problem, the RHS advises midsummer pruning. Trees grown for a fruit crop may need pest control.