Quick Facts
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Height at Maturity: 6-15 Feet
Usage: Fruiting
Shipped As: Bare-root
Planting Zones: 5-9
Product Details
Chickasaw plum seedlings (Prunus angustifolia), sometimes called sand plum or Cherokee plum, are the native thicket-forming wild plum that wildlife biologists reach for when a property needs cover in a hurry. Tennessee Wholesale Nursery ships them bare root in 6-12 inch, 12-18 inch and 6-24 inch row-run grades, bundled by 100, 500 or 1,000, for quail and upland bird managers, conservation districts, farm windbreak projects, DOT and roadside crews and nurseries.
Built for Cover: Why Habitat Managers Plant Chickasaw Plum
Chickasaw plum spreads by root sprouts into dense, twiggy colonies, and that habit is its greatest asset. A planted row knits together into a thicket that gives bobwhite quail, rabbits, songbirds and turkey poults secure loafing, nesting and escape cover. Plant a few clumps in an open field and you create the shrubby "covey headquarters" that upland bird programs look for. The small red-to-yellow plums ripen in early to mid summer and are eaten by deer, foxes, raccoons and many birds, while people pick them for jelly and preserves.
Specifications
- Species: Prunus angustifolia, rose family (Rosaceae)
- Growth form: Multi-stem native shrub or small tree, forms thickets
- Height: 6 to 15 feet, often wider than tall as a colony
- Zones: USDA 5 through 9
- Sun: Full sun to part shade, with the heaviest bloom and fruit in full sun
- Soil: Thrives in sandy, gravelly and dry upland soils as well as loam and clay
- Bloom: Clouds of white flowers in early spring, before the leaves
- Available as: Bare root seedlings; 6-12", 12-18", row run 6-24"; bundles of 100, 500, 1,000
Early Spring Bloom for Pollinators
Chickasaw plum is among the first woody plants to flower in the South, often in March. Those early white blossoms give native bees and other early pollinators a reliable nectar and pollen source and make a striking show along fence lines and highway shoulders.
Hedgerow and Windbreak Footage per Bundle
| Bundle | Single row at 6 ft | Single row at 4 ft |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 600 ft | 400 ft |
| 500 | 3,000 ft | 2,000 ft |
| 1,000 | 6,000 ft | 4,000 ft |
For block plantings and covey thickets, 8 by 8 foot spacing places about 680 plants per acre. Row run is the economical choice for long hedgerows; the graded sizes give a more uniform look for landscape and roadside work.
Pair It With
Build a multi-species shrub border with fragrant sumac seedlings and elderberry, or add persimmon for taller soft mast. Our article on the Chickasaw plum tree goes deeper on its history and uses, and you can compare more wildlife shrubs in our wholesale shrubs collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chickasaw plum good for quail habitat?
Yes. Its dense, thicket-forming growth is one of the most widely recommended native shrubs for bobwhite quail cover.
How fast does Chickasaw plum grow?
It grows quickly, often forming a usable thicket within three to five years of planting.
How far apart should I plant Chickasaw plum for a hedgerow?
Set seedlings 4 to 6 feet apart in a single row, or in a double staggered row for a denser screen.
What zones does Chickasaw plum grow in?
Chickasaw plum is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9 and is right at home across the Southeast and southern Plains.
When are Chickasaw plum seedlings shipped?
They ship dormant as bare root seedlings starting in November.
Why Buyers Trust Our Seedlings
Since 1959, when Roscoe Tate planted the first rows, our family has grown native trees and shrubs in Altamont, Tennessee. As the wholesale arm of TN Nursery, we have supplied plants for the Washington Monument grounds and Arlington National Cemetery. Chickasaw plum seedlings are dug while dormant and packed using the methods described in how we package our plants, and they are guaranteed to arrive alive.