Mexican Plum Tree

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SEE HOW YOUR TREE ARRIVES
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Mexican Plum Tree is a native ornamental tree that offers year-round interest. Fragrant white flowers bloom in very early spring before the leaves emerge, followed by small edible plums in late summer and beautiful yellow to orange-red fall foliage. Its native heritage, wildlife benefits, and ornamental beauty make it an outstanding choice for homeowners looking to add both seasonal color and ecological value to their landscape.

  • Botanical name: Prunus mexicana
  • Bloom time: Late winter to early spring
  • Harvest time: Late summer
  • Deciduous
  • Grown in the USA

SUNLIGHT
Prefers full sun to partial shade.

WATER
Water deeply at the base when the top 2–3 inches of soil begin to dry. During establishment, this is typically once or twice per week, keeping the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Once established, water less frequently, providing occasional deep watering during extended dry periods. Watering frequency varies depending on climate, soil type, rainfall, sunlight exposure, and establishment phase.

IDEAL CLIMATE
Hardy in USDA Zones 6–9. Mexican Plum thrives in warm, temperate climates and is well suited for native landscapes, pollinator gardens, and home orchards.

Note: Mexican Plum often develops multiple trunks and a naturally irregular shape, giving it a charming, natural appearance. It can be trained into a single-trunk tree when young if a more formal look is desired.

*We cannot guarantee the Mexican Plum Tree you receive will already be bearing fruit. This depends on the season and the overall growth pattern.

PLANT DESCRIPTION & MATURE SIZE

The Mexican Plum Tree (Prunus mexicana) is a beautiful native flowering tree prized for its fragrant white spring blossoms, colorful fall foliage, and flavorful plums. One of the earliest trees to bloom each spring, it fills the landscape with fragrant flowers before its leaves emerge, attracting bees and other pollinators. By late summer, the small plums ripen from yellow to deep red or purple and can be enjoyed fresh or used for jams, jellies, and preserves. Its ornamental beauty, wildlife value, and adaptability make it an excellent choice for home landscapes and native gardens.

GROWTH RATE & MATURE SIZE:

A moderate-growing deciduous tree that typically reaches 15–30 feet tall and 15–25 feet wide at maturity.

WATERING & SUNLIGHT

Water deeply at the base when the top 2–3 inches of soil begin to dry. During establishment, this is typically once or twice per week, keeping the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Once established, water less frequently, providing occasional deep watering during prolonged dry periods. Watering frequency will vary depending on climate, soil type, rainfall, sunlight exposure, and the tree's establishment phase.

Mexican Plum Tree grows best in full sun but also performs well in partial shade. Trees planted in sunnier locations typically produce the heaviest flowering, best fruit production, and most vibrant fall color.

PLANT CARE & PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS

PRUNING
Prune during late winter while the tree is dormant to remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches and maintain an attractive canopy. Minimal pruning is generally needed beyond occasional shaping and removing suckers if desired.

FERTILIZING
Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring if needed to encourage healthy growth. Avoid fertilizing for the first 2–3 months after delivery to allow the tree to adjust and establish.

WINTER PROTECTION
Mexican Plum Tree is cold hardy throughout its recommended growing range. Apply mulch around the root zone to help conserve moisture and insulate the roots during winter, while keeping mulch several inches away from the trunk.

PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS:

Plant Mexican Plum Tree in full sun to partial shade in well-draining soil. Dig a hole approximately twice as wide as the rootball and no deeper than the rootball itself. Position the top of the rootball level with or slightly above the surrounding soil, backfill with native soil, water deeply after planting, and apply a 2–3 inch layer of mulch around the base, keeping it several inches away from the trunk.

USDA GROW ZONE:

Zones 6-9

Mexican Plum Tree thrives in warm, temperate climates and is native to portions of the south-central United States. It performs best in full sun to partial shade with well-draining soil and tolerates periods of drought once established. Its excellent adaptability makes it a wonderful choice for naturalized landscapes, native plant gardens, and residential yards.

Important: USDA Hardiness Zones only measure a plant's cold tolerance. They do not account for heat tolerance, humidity, rainfall, or other climate factors. Always consider your local growing conditions in addition to your USDA Zone when selecting plants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mexican Plum Tree typically grows 15–30 feet tall and 15–25 feet wide, depending on growing conditions and whether it is grown as a single-trunk tree or multi-stem specimen.

Mexican Plum is a moderate-growing tree that typically grows approximately 1–2 feet per year under favorable growing conditions.

Mexican Plum grows best in full sun to partial shade with well-draining soil. It makes an excellent specimen tree, wildlife tree, or addition to native landscapes, where its spring blooms, fruit, and fall color can be fully appreciated.

Space Mexican Plum Trees approximately 15–20 feet apart to allow room for their mature canopy and good air circulation.

Mexican Plum is generally more productive when another compatible plum tree is nearby for cross-pollination, but many trees will still produce some fruit on their own. Planting another plum that blooms around the same time can help increase fruit production and improve harvests.

Mexican Plum Tree is best suited for planting in the ground, where it has room to develop a healthy root system and reach its full potential. While young trees can be grown temporarily in a large container, long-term growth, flowering, and fruit production are generally much better when planted in the landscape.

Mexican Plum Trees typically begin producing fruit within 2–4 years after planting, depending on the tree's age, growing conditions, and pollination. The plums generally ripen in late summer, although harvest time can vary slightly based on your climate and local weather.

Once established, Mexican Plum is fairly drought tolerant and can handle periods of dry weather better than many ornamental flowering trees. However, occasional deep watering during extended drought helps maintain healthy growth and fruit production.

Yes. Mexican Plum produces small, flavorful plums that can be eaten fresh when fully ripe or used to make jams, jellies, preserves, and desserts. They have a pleasantly sweet-tart flavor.

Homeowners love Mexican Plum Tree for its fragrant early spring flowers, colorful fall foliage, edible fruit, and ability to support pollinators and wildlife. It provides beauty in every season while being easy to grow in many landscapes.

More Details

We process and ship your order as quickly as possible, typically within 1-3 business days. You will receive a shipping confirmation with tracking information once your item(s) ship.

We have perfected packaging and shipping plants & trees! That is why we DO NOT use any third-party fulfillment like most other online retailers. Your trees go straight from our farm to your door, safely packaged by our team of seasoned professionals. Our process ensures your plants leave our facility and arrive to your door in the best condition possible!

In cases of extreme cold or hot weather, we may temporarily delay shipping to ensure the well-being of your plants. Our primary focus is on delivering healthy and thriving plants to you. Rest assured, we'll make every effort to notify you of any delays promptly.

Please allow additional ship times during inclement weather and sale periods. We do not process or ship orders on the weekend or U.S. Holidays. Simply Trees is not responsible for delays due to carriers, local disruptions, or weather.

See how we pack your plants!

Learn more about our Shipping Policy

At Simply Trees, we're committed to your satisfaction. If your plants arrive considerably damaged or sustained damage beyond the point of recovery, please contact us within five days at sales@simplytrees.com with clear photos of the entire plant in question for assistance. Our 1 year guarantee covers issues after planting, subject to our terms. We can't cover plants in the wrong climate or with inadequate care, but we're here to help in other situations. For a detailed understanding of our 1 year guarantee and how we ensure a fair process, click here to learn more.

All California orders require a mandatory inspection by the Texas Department of Agriculture (yep, it’s a USDA thing!). These inspections happen about once a week—typically on Tuesdays, though the day can vary. If you place an order just after an inspection, your plant may not ship for several days until the next one. Unfortunately, we’re not able to expedite this part of the process.

Also, due to USDA regulations, we’re unable to ship oak trees, citrus or fruit trees (except olive trees) to California. This rule helps prevent the spread of pests and diseases and applies to nurseries across the country.

Thanks for your patience—we’ll make sure it’s worth the wait.

What's inside?

Your order from Simply Trees is more than just a box of plants—it’s a carefully curated experience. Here’s what’s inside:

  • We hand-select our plants for premium-quality from top growers nationwide
  • Each plant is then cleaned, prepped, and pruned to remove any blemishes and encourage new growth
  • Expertly treated and inspected for preventative measure
  • The pot is wrapped in a durable plastic bag and secured with a zip tie; house plants get extra protection with a recyclable nursery bag. Some Jumbo plants may be carefully removed from their nursery pot and burlapped to protect the rootball and ensure safe transit.
  • Your plant is strapped into our durable double-pane boxes, secured in place with a heavy-duty zip tie to ensure safe transit
  • A thank you card with a QR code leads to our guide on welcoming your new plants home

We take pride in making sure every detail is just right, so you can enjoy your new greenery from the moment it arrives.

SUSTAINABLE SHIPPING, QUALITY CARE

We've perfected the art of packaging and shipping plants and trees! Unlike most online retailers, we handle everything in-house—no third-party fulfillment. Our experienced team carefully packages your plants to ensure they arrive from our farm to your door in perfect condition.