Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Tuesday - December 18, 2012
From: Conroe, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Edible Plants, Poisonous Plants, Trees
Title: Wild plums for jelly from Conroe TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Do wild plum trees grow in my area? I want to get some next summer to make plum jelly.ANSWER:
The Prunus mexicana (Mexican plum) definitely grows in Montgomery County, according to this USDA Plant Profle Map. We don't know how old a tree has to be to bear fruit, but they grow to 15' to 35' tall, and begin bearing fruit fairly young. These are probably not going to show up in your supermarket, but a local Farmer's Market might be a good possibility.
We do want to caution that every part of a member of the prunus species, except the flesh of the fruit, is poisonous. So, careful about disposing of twigs, leaves, etc. that you might gather in picking the fruit, and be sure to remove the seed before you begin to process the fruit.
Follow this plant link, Prunus mexicana (Mexican plum), to our webpage on the plant to learn more about it, including blooming and fruiting times.
From the Image Gallery
More Trees Questions
Rock under space for Bigtooth Maple in San Antonio
May 20, 2013 - I just got a 10 gallon Bigtooth Maple in Medina TX for my home outside loop 1604 in San Antonio. I hit rock about 7 inches in when trying to plant it..I am entertaining the idea for a raised bed to le...
view the full question and answer
Walnut tree root coming through basement floor in Portland, OR
February 10, 2009 - I have a walnut tree root coming through my basement floor. I need advice as to what will it do to tree when I remove the root, like another root though a different part of my home. It is a large tree...
view the full question and answer
Mulching tree root in San Angelo, TX
April 02, 2014 - San Angelo, Texas is in a drought stage. Will it help our trees to mulch the base of them?
view the full question and answer
Identification of mystery tree in Huntington Beach, CA
March 25, 2015 - Have a "tree" that has grown from about 18" tall to about 10' tall in a little over a years time. It has a central trunk that is about 3/4" in diameter at it's largest. It has short thin branch...
view the full question and answer
Loss of bloom on Fremontodendron californicum in California
June 11, 2009 - The flowers on my Flannel Bush all died at once I have noticed a sappy substance at the base of the trunk. There are still some flowers on bush but most are dead. It has been blooming since Feb. Is ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |