Species specifics: Sandhill plum

Fast facts about sandhill plum

Sandhill plum is a native deciduous shrub commonly found throughout the southwestern, midwestern, eastern and southeastern states, and in California.
Also known as Chickasaw plum, sand plum or mountain cherry, the thickets of sandhill plums offer wildlife habitats, shade to livestock and fruit for birds and humans alike. However, the aggressive spreading shrub can quickly become invasive when left unmanaged.
The shrub tends to grow in dense thickets that range from 3 to 10 feet high with a spread of up to 15 feet wide but can also grow as individual small trees up to 25 feet tall.

What to look for

Sandhill Plum (Prunus angustifolia), also commonly referred to as Chickasaw plum, sand plum or mountain cherry, is a native, thicket forming thorny shrub that is commonly found throughout sandy prairies and grasslands.

The deciduous shrub often grows in dense thickets ranging from 3 to 10 feet high with a spread of up to 15 feet wide or more but can also mature into small tree-like structures up to 25 feet tall. Sandhill plum’s short, thick, thorny branches first emerge as reddish brown, smooth zigzag twigs that mature into scaly rough bark. Leaves on the branches of the shrub are small, simple lanceolate to slightly oblong lanceolate-shaped, up to 2.5 inches long and under 1 inch wide. Notable leaf characteristics include trough-shaped edges with stalks that have two red glands near the tip with fine teeth serrated on the edges.

Sandhill plum is an early bloomer with flowers budding at the end of the thorny twigs in March or April before leaving out in May. Flowers are off-white or yellowish white and less than ½ inch in diameter. Small red, orange or dark yellow fruits emerge in summer, typically from June to August, ranging ¼ to ½ inch wide with small seed stones inside that attract birds. Fruits are also commonly harvested for making wine, jam and jelly in many parts of the country.

Sandhill plum spreads most rapidly by root suckers but also spreads via seed dispersant from wildlife spread or falling from parent plant. Once established, sandhill plums are drought tolerant and can live through extended periods of limited moisture and stressed environments that will often setback other surrounding forages.

The native shrub is not toxic to livestock but due to its thorny and dense stature, the shrub serves as little interest to cattle and livestock for anything other than shade alongside mature sandhill plum thickets in the heat of the summer.

Where it is found

Sandhill plums prefer sandy and clay-loam soils; however, they will establish in most all soil types except those that are highly alkaline. The shrub can be used as a good option for stabilizing blowing soils and eroding areas.

Sandhill plum can be found in most southwestern, midwestern, eastern and southeastern states, and in California.

How to treat it

Sandhill plum is a species best kept in moderation on grazing pastures and grasslands. Due to its aggressive, thicket-forming nature, actions to manage and control sandhill plum should be taken before populations boom.

Prescribed burns are a common pasture management tactic in areas where sandhill plum is found, however, fire control of this brush species is often ineffective. After a burn, the above ground growth of the plant will be immediately setback, but the root systems will rebound new shoots to the same as (or larger than) the pre-burn size the following 2 to 5 years.

For broadcast herbicide applications to manage Sandhill plum, treat in spring when leaves are fully expanding and mature. In combination with a non-ionic surfactant at 0.25% volume/volume, mix and apply either Surmount® herbicide at 3 to 4 pints per acre for plants under 6 feet tall or 4 to 6 pints per acre for plants over 6 feet tall, or GrazonPD3™ herbicide at 5 pints per acre.

For individual plant foliar treatment, apply Surmount at 1 to 2% volume/volume with a non-ionic surfactant at 0.25% volume/volume. Spray to uniformly wet all the leaves but not to the point of runoff.

GrazonPD3™ and Surmount® are Restricted Use Pesticides. GrazonPD3 is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. GrazonPD3 is not for sale, distribution or use in Nassau and Suffolk Counties in New York State. Surmount is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions.