Plum Trees

Plums are native to China, America, and Europe. Today there are more than 200 cultivars being grown. There are two main types of plums, European and Japanese, being marketed today. Generally, Japanese plums are larger than European plums. European plums have high sugar content so they are often dried and used for making prunes. Most of the plum fruit that is consumed as fresh fruit and found in grocery stores are Japanese plums. European plums are generally late bloomers so they are well suited for areas with late frosts or cool springs. Japanese plums ripen earlier than European varieties.

 Plum trees may or may not need pollinators. Some are self fruitful and some need another plum tree for pollination purposes. Most European plums will either benefit from or require cross-pollination from another European variety. Many Japanese plums require pollinators. Follow nursery recommendations for suitable pollinizers. Plum trees are fast growing and usually begin producing fruit in 3 to 5 years after planting.

 Plums are rich in dietary fiber that is effective in improving digestion. They are low in calories and contain ample amounts of vitamin C, calcium, potassium, and carbohydrates. Plums are excellent when eaten fresh and are great addition in salads. They are used for pies, desserts, jams and jellies.

Growing a Plum Tree From a Branch

Growing a plum tree from the pit requires cleaning the pit thoroughly and planting it outside in cold-weather climates, or planting it in moss, placing it in a zip-lock bag and keeping it in the refrigerator for six to eight weeks. Begin a plum tree from the pit, which takes about two years to develop into a small plant.

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Most commercial plums are done by budding, or propagated by budding, but it's quite possible to grow a plum from a branch, and essentially the way that you do it is this; during the winter, and it's important that the branch be taken during a dormant period of the plum, you take a branch from the tree that's about pencil sized.

About fifteen inches in length, ten to fifteen inches in length and about a pencil size in diameter. You take that branch, you sever it at a diagonal with a grafting knife, and then you dip it quickly into rooting hormone. Then you place it in a planting medium composted of sphagnum moss and a sand mixture. And this should be kept very damp. Eventually the plant should take hold, the roots should grow, and you will have a plum tree from a branch. So, that's how to grow a plum tree from a branch.

Growing a plum tree from the pit requires cleaning the pit thoroughly and planting it outside in cold-weather climates, or planting it in moss, placing it in a zip-lock bag and keeping it in the refrigerator for six to eight weeks. Begin a plum tree from the pit, which takes about two years to develop into a small plant.

Growing Red Plums From Seeds

Locate a red plum tree, and wait until late summer when the plums fall off of the tree. Pick up a fruit from the ground that is not rotten and that has not been chewed on by animals.

Place the red plum on a kitchen cutting board, and cut into it with a knife until you meet resistance. Cut the remainder of the flesh away from the plum to reveal the inner seed, which is large pit.

Hold the plum seed under running water, and rub it with your hands to remove the remainder of the pulp.

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Lay the plum pit in a dry location for one to two weeks to allow it to dry completely. Store it in a cool, dry location until you are ready to plant it.

Wait until the late fall, after the first frost occurs, and look for an outdoor planting location that has well-drained, fertile soil and direct sun.



Dig a 4-inch deep hole, and insert the plum seed into it. Cover the seed completely with soil, and press down on the top of the soil to compact it.

Water the soil to a 5-inch depth immediately after planting. The plum tree will emerge from the soil in the early spring, at which time you should resume watering.

How to Prune a Plum Tree

9Plum trees generally are pruned in a vase type format. That means what you want to do is encourage the growth of a fairly short trunk and then encourage three or four major branches to splay off the top of that trunk at about a forty-five degree angle.

Now this is generally accomplished in the winter. In fact the very best time to prune plums is in the very late winter right before bud break. Because at that time, the wounds that you create have less time in which they have to heal before the tree starts to resume growth.

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Now a vase type arrangement is ideal for plums because it allows a great deal of sunlight to get to the interior of the tree and to get to the fruiting wood. And remember whenever you're pruning, whether it's a plum or any other deciduous tree, never ever leave a stump on the tree. You want to prune it right back to the next major, either to the trunk or to major branches.



A stump is a way that insects, disease and fungus can find their way into the tree. In addition to basic winter pruning, which I've just spoken of, you can also do some light summer pruning. For instance if you get over vigorous shoots, water sprouts or crossing or damaged branches, by all means take those out. However the major pruning, the major shaping of the tree should take place in late winter.  Happy growing !

How to Prune a 5 Year Old Plum Tree

Inspect the tree in the spring before it begins actively leafing out. Cut out dead or winter-damaged branches with a pruning saw. Cut them flush with the nearest healthy branch or the trunk.

Trim out any crossed branches that are rubbing together, as the damage caused by rubbing can lead to disease or insect problems. Cut the branches back to the nearest main branch from which they emerge.

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Locate any water spout branches on the plum tree. Water spouts grow straight up from one of the side branches, often crowding the upper branches and weakening the branch they emerge from. Cut out the water spouts flush with the branch of their origin.



Cut back the top and sides of the tree to maintain the shape and size. Cut back each overgrown branch to a leaf bud nearest the desired length of the branch.

Plum Tree Care

The purple-leaved plum tree is a dramatic ornamental tree. It is usually selected for its abundant and stunning display of pink flowers and lush reddish-purple leaves. It is particularly showy because flowers bloom early in the spring before foliage appears. The plum tree's richly colored leaves are 1-1/2 to 3 inches long and are present throughout most of the growing season, making a lovely contrast and enhancement to the landscape. Some people do opt to purchase the fruit bearing variety, which produces small purple plums. A fast grower, the plum tree has an upright form with a lovely rounded and dense canopy. For best results, tree should be positioned in full sun and well-drained, acidic soil.

Plum Tree Care

Plum trees are susceptible to several stresses and insect and disease issues. By properly controlling insects and disease, fertilizing, watering and regularly pruning the trees, you can encourage tree health and enjoy the beauty of this tree on your landscape for years.

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At the beginning of the growing season horticultural oils should also be used to smother scale insects and reduce over wintering populations of aphid and mite eggs. Plum trees are also susceptible to Japanese beetle attacks. Preventative and curative treatments are available to ward off this pest.
Newly planted trees benefit from ArborKelp® - SavATree’s exclusive seaweed biostimulant which aids in tree establishment, promotes root growth and heightens stress tolerance.

Mature and established plum trees benefit from fertilizer feedings of organic-based macro and micronutrients for the nutrition necessary to sustain their health.