Time for Sand Plums

The Chickasaw, Cherokee or sand plum grows 12 to 20 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide in an irregular shape. It is "twiggy" in nature, and has a scaly, almost black bark. Its branches are reddish with a thorn-like, small side branches. In February, March, April and May, small white flowers blossom, 8–9 mm wide, along with red plums, up to 25 mm long. The flowers have five white petals with reddish or orange anthers. The plums ripen in late summer. It is perennial and also an evergreen. It requires low to medium amounts of water to grow, and dry, sandy or loose soil. It grows best in areas with regular sunlight or areas of partial shade. In sunny areas, it will be more dense and colonize more thickly. In areas of partial shade, it will be thinner and less dense, and each plant will be more spread out.

http://theworkofherhands.wordpress.com/category/food/sand-plums/

Prunus angustifolia or sand plums are native to the United States and can be found in all of the central plain and southern states, as well as California. They grow in dry and sandy soils, such as open woodlands, woodland edges, forest openings, savannahs, prairies, plains, meadows, pastures, and roadsides. Chickasaw plums tend to bloom early in the spring. Because they bloom early in the spring, before many other plants bloom, and require very little maintenance, they are often used in horticulture for ornamental use. They are found along many highways, especially in the southern part of the United States. The fruit is eaten by various animals. It also provides cover for nesting sites. Ripe fruits are slightly tart, but can be eaten or are sometimes made into jellies, desserts and preserves. Because of its attractive bark, small leaves and thin branches, Chickasaw plum is also sometimes used for bonsai.

Use of sand plums range from cover for native bird species to making jams, jellies, and wine from the fruit. Commercial desire in making jams and jellies has led to a rising interest in cultivating sand plums for home and orchard production. Sand plums range from 2 feet to 25 feet high, depending upon soil and water conditions. Leaves are bright green and have serrated edges that have tiny orange dots on each serration. The leaves have a slick feeling to the touch. This characteristic can help distinguish it from Oklahoma Plum, which looks very similar but has leaves that are fuzzy to the touch.

The bark is initially a deep reddish brown color that turns ash gray as the branch ages. Flowers typically appear in March to early April and are arranged in clusters. These flowers are a brilliant white and may have a faint fragrance. They usually are no bigger than 0.5 inches across. Flowering will last for a couple of weeks and either red or yellow fruit will begin to form afterward. Ripening of the fruit occurs from June to early August and are either yellow or a bright red. Both colors occur in the same areas of Oklahoma. Fruit size can range from ¼ inch to 1 inch. It is recommended that long sleeves be worn while collecting fruit since the plants may be thorny, depending upon how damaged they have been by deer and cattle in the past.

Sand plum recipes can be found on the web for all sorts of delicious goodies like jelly, jam, butter and bread. Here are links to just a few...

Sand Plum Jam

Sand Plum Bread

The sand plum season is short...enjoy some today!