Plums are very well adapted to our Florida climate. Many areas of North Florida still have old thickets of plums growing in the wild. The ones we offer here are large, high quality fruits like you'll find in your finest fruit markets. Plums come in a wild array of flavors, shapes, sizes and colors. In the South, by carefully choosing varieties that ripen at different times, it's possible to have ripe homegrown plums all summer long. We're also adding some ornamental plums for folks that want the flowers and foliage, but not the fruit.

Plums need good cross-pollination. Even plums that are considered self-pollinating will bear larger and more consistent fruit crops with a pollinator. Remember that who pollinates who depends on your chill hours. If you are uncertain about your chill hours, contact your County Cooperative Extension Agent or check out the University of Florida IFAS chill hours map by clicking here.

Plum Good Varieties (Prunus spp.)

BRUCE One of the toughest Plum trees-- a Chickasaw-Japanese plum hybrid. Flavor is tops! A frost-hardy tree, ideal for low areas. Semi-dwarf, weeping habit. Sunset orange fruit with a sweet mellow flavor. Needs a pollinator. Ripens late May-June. 500 chill hours. Zones 8B-9. $29.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

BYRONGOLD Finally a yellow plum of high quality! To quote the United States Department of Agriculture, "Byrongold meets or exceeds all current expectations for tree vigor, productivity, precocity, and resistance to the bacterial and fungal diseases that are common in the Southeastern United States." Byrongold's fruit is a winner, too! Large , over 2 inches in diameter, and round, it's bright yellow on the outside with a golden-yellow flesh that's deliciously crispy. Needs a pollinator. Ripens late June to early July. 450 chill hours. Zone 8. $29.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

CHICKASAW A true edible ornamental, thickets of native Chickasaw plum are a welcome sight to bears, raccoons, foxes, deer, man, and other wildlife. They provide abundant crops of small bright red plums that ripen to yellow and make delicious jelly. In the early spring, while other deciduous trees are still dormant, Chickasaws announce their presence with stunning clouds of tiny pure white fragrant flowers. Drought tolerant once established. Zones 6-9. $22.99 3gal(4-5ft).

FLATWOOD This native plum, also known as hog plum, is found from the Carolinas to central Florida to Texas and Arkansas. A hardy understory tree that has a natural crooked form, the Flatwood will produce 1/2 to 1 inch tart purplish-black or deep red fruit. Their natural pectin make them a great source for jams, jellies and pies. Flatwoods can grow to 20 feet tall. Zones 8-9. $22.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

GUTHERIE CHICKASAW An improved Chickasaw plum that doesn't sucker and is highly disease resistant. This new variety is yellow-skinned with a tangy, sweet yellow flesh. Fruit is 1 1/2 inches across and makes a fabulous jelly. A good choice for growers who have problems with pollination. Ripens mid-June. Zones 8-9. $22.99 3gal(4-5ft).

IMPROVED METHLEY A great improvement on a wonderful old standby. This new variety is a purple-skinned plum with a sweet, soft, melting amber flesh. The very best pollinator for other varieties. We highly recommend buying this as your first plum variety. Ripens mid-June. 500-700 chill hours. Zone 8. $29.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

ROBUSTO New plum with wild plum in its breeding to make it tough and disease resistant. This new variety has a bronze-red skin and red flesh coupled with a great flavor. Clingstone. Needs a pollinator. Ripens early June. 400-500 chill hours. Zone 8. $29.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

SEGUNDO Another plum with wild plum in its breeding to make it tough and disease resistant. This new variety has a red skin and orange-red flesh coupled with a great flavor. Clingstone. Needs a pollinator. Ripens mid June. 400-500 chill hours. Zone 8. $29.99 3 gal (4-5ft).

TROPICAL PLUMS (Low Chill for Zones 8B-9)

You'll love these super low chill plums if you live in South Florida or anywhere in Zones 8B-9. They also work well in North Florida (Zone 8B) because along with a low chill requirement, they have a high heat requirement to initiate flowering (a heat unit is sort of the opposite of chill units-- just take our word for it). All pollinate each other (but cannot be pollinated with our other low chill plums).

GULF BEAUTY Still another University of Florida patented release (USPP 11224). Richly sweet, small, red fruit. Heavy producer with excellent flavor. Needs a Gulf series pollinator. Ripens early May. 250 chill hours. Zones 8B-9. $32.99 3 gal (4-5ft). Available Fall 2010.

GULF BLAZE Patented University of Florida release (USPP 10880). Medium-sized, deep ruby-red fruit with yellow-red center. Excellent flavor. Needs a Gulf series pollinator. Ripens early to mid-May. 250 chill hours. Zones 8B-9. $32.99 3 gal (4-5ft). Available Fall 2010.

GULF ROSE Another University of Florida patented release (USPP 12833). Heavy crops of medium-sized fruit. Rich flavor, rose center. About as beautiful as a plum can get! Needs a Gulf series pollinator. 275 chill hours. Ripens early May. Zones 8B-9. $32.99 3 gal (4-5ft). Available Fall 2010.



Just the Facts
Not sure what to do with peaches, plums and nectarines or how to grow them right? DON'T PANIC! Push the panic button and we will give you "Just the Facts" you need to successfully grow them.

Are we out of what you are looking for? Email us at Justfruits@hotmail.com and we'll put you on the "Call When Available" list. We will call you!

Please come to see us if you can (Wednesday to Sunday, 9:05-5:08). We are located 19 miles south of Tallahassee, just off US Highway 98, 1 mile east of the intersection with US Highway 319 (South of Crawfordville center and actually in the village of Medart). If you need further directions, feel free to call us at 1-850-926-5644 or enter 30 St. Frances St. Crawfordville FL 32327 (or Just Fruits Nursery) into Google Maps ( CLICK HERE).