Plums – Finding The Wild One

Q: When I was a child, we had a plum tree in our yard. My father would make a wonderful sweet-tart jam from the plums. He said it was a “hog” or wild plum tree. Do you know of this type of plum tree and where I could obtain one?

A: The wild plum (^Prunus americana^) was a staple of my early summer diet as a child. Its yellow and red fruit, when consumed to excess, guaranteed a technicolor stomach ache. I see them growing along country roadsides when their fragrant white blooms appear in spring but I don’t know of a retail source for the plants. Perhaps the best way to find a plant for yourself is to cruise the backroads next April and ask permission to dig one from the landowner. You might also contact the Georgia Wildlife Federation (770-929-3350) and ask if their Wingsong native plant sale could include a plum tree for you.