Sun or shade. Deciduous, with striated bark resembling a cherry tree. Fragrant white/pink flowers are one of the earliest signs of spring. The fruits ripen in autumn; they’re small and tasty, if somewhat sour.
The leaves droop heavily at the end of summer, but Mexican plum is drought-hardy as long as soils are deep enough.
Stout thorns require careful handling. Pruning cuts should only be made at a bud or branch and mostly just to remove dead, damaged, or rubbing branches.
As with any tree, remove no more than 25% of the canopy during any five-year cycle. Leave the upper 2/3 of the crown uncut to maintain a healthy specimen never removing more than the lowest third of the tree in a single pruning period. Mulch with about 2″ of wood chips or pine bark wherever possible. (In general, the mulched area for a tree should be six feet at minimum.)
