Oak Summit Nursery choices
American plum or cherry plum
American plum is a seed grown native species. Cherry plums are selected hybrids usually sold as named plants. The right choice depends on whether you want diversity and rootstock value or a known fruiting selection.
Choose American plum for
A diverse seedling thicket
- Cold hardy wildlife and pollinator planting
- Seedling rootstocks for grafting
- Small sweet tart plums with natural variation
Choose a cherry plum for
A selected compact fruit plant
- A named hybrid with known fruit and habit
- Prairie hardy fresh eating or preserving fruit
- An own rooted plant rather than a variable seedling population
How the plants differ
| Trait | American plum | Cherry plum |
|---|---|---|
| Plant type | Prunus americana species seedlings | Selected hybrids involving sand cherry, Japanese plum, American plum, or related parents |
| What stays consistent | Species hardiness and general habit, with variation between seedlings | The named plant is propagated to preserve its selection |
| Best fit | Wildlife rows, pollination, naturalized fruit, and rootstocks | Compact orchard fruit and known culinary traits |
| Pollination | Useful as a pollinator for compatible plums | Usually needs a compatible cherry plum or hardy plum nearby |
Do not treat a cherry plum plant and an American plum seed packet as equivalent products. One is a selected plant. The other starts a genetically varied population.
Examples from the nursery
American Wild Plum Seeds (Prunus americana) - Zone 3 - 15 SeedsCurrently unavailable, reminder available
Cherry Plum Rootstock (Prunus 'Jeffchum')Currently unavailable, reminder available
See additional fruit and grafting observations in the plum and cherry Field Notes.