PlantFiles: Chickasaw Plum
Prunus angustifolia

One of the few flowering, small trees that grows in the deep/coastal South. Fairly slow to grow -- mine is about 5 feet after 4 years. That's a very slow growth rate for trees in Central Florida. Eventually they reach 15 feet, but, as one commentator remarks here, that's about the time they begin to decline. No fear -- they are pretty prolific self-sowers. Dig them up to share. I don't know them to sucker, as another remarks. Perhaps these are just seedlings.

My friend has dozens of these growing in large clumps (mostly as undergrowth in partial shade) throughout her yard. In the spring, the show of tiny white flowers that covers every branch is remarkable -- typically right around the time that azaleas bloom. Older specimens produce quite a lot of fruit, but it takes several years. (See my photo.) The fruit has very high wildlife value, and though it makes some ok jam, it's better left to the birds.

Though deciduous, its bark has a fairly good ornamental value -- it peels to reveal tan wood beneath cinammon-colored bark.

This is one tough and carefree tree, plus a native to most of the Southeast.

Excellent fruit, no maintenance, beautiful flowers. Grows wild in Carolina Sandhills on dry, sandy ridgelines and abandoned agricultural fields. Very hardy species.

I have a few of these trees and they are fairly common in my area. The fruit varies from tree to tree, some have larger more juicy fruit than others. My best one was blown down by hurricane Ivan, but I let one of the suckers grow to form a new tree. The suckers can get annoying, but mine are growing in the middle of my lawn, so I just mow them with the grass. I have found aphids to be problem in some years, and the trees are also susceptible to black knot disease.

Though they are relatively short lived, the snowy spring show is worth the effort. When a clump is well established, young trees are always available to replace the ones that die of old age.
Bees and Butterflies gather pollen and nectar, and other wildlife enjoy the cherries. Branches can be forced into flower for floral arrangements, thus extending the blooming period. Size is ideal for small yards, too.
This is one of my very favorite small trees.

Wonderful tree common to the Southeast. Flowers are white and bloom in early spring.

Prunus Angustifolia is a deciduous multi-stemmed shrub or small tree which occurs in thickets, pastures, fields, fencerows, stream banks and disturbed areas. It produces suckers to form large colonies.

The fruits are small and appear in early to mid summer. They can be eaten, but are tart. Jellies would probably be a better use for them than fresh eating.