Plum (Prunus mexicana)
Interesting & key characteristics:
Height: about 15-25 feet tall
Leaves: usually 5 inches long and are green
Flowers: Showy white flowers before the leaves come in
Varieties: More than 200 varieties
Fruit: Production of fruit starts around the 3-5 year and slows down at about 10
Unique benefits (how it helps our planet):
These trees house many animal species. They produce food for animals and the plums can be made into preserves for people. Not only do they produce delicious fruits for squirrels, raccoons, and opossums, but the prunus genus is second only to oaks for hosting the most species of butterfly and moth caterpillars that eat their leaves.
The Story Behind the Tree:
Planted seven years ago, these three trees are now home to many birds, squirrels, and the occasional opossum. This trio comes from a mother tree from Mr. Schimmelpfenig and Mrs. Torilina’s prairie home. During the warmer months, these trees produce delicious fruits and provide a wonderful shelter for animals. They were planted as part of a project to bring more native species to our campus.
