Adding native fruit trees to your landscape is a fantastic choice that offers a multitude of benefits. These trees not only yield delicious and abundant crops but also attract wildlife, fostering a thriving ecosystem. Additionally, they capture carbon, enrich the soil, and create optimal conditions for the growth of other plants. Embracing native fruit trees is a wonderful way to enhance your own piece of the Pineywoods!
A fruit tree for everyone
The 2024 Arbor Day Tree Giveaway will feature three native fruit trees, Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) and Chickasaw Plum (Prunus angustifolia). Let’s take a deeper dive into the similarities and differences between these three native species and help decipher which fruit tree is best for your landscape.
Persimmon: the divine fruit
Common persimmon is a widely distributed, slow growing tree that averages 15-35 feet in height at maturity. This tree grows best in full sun and is adapted to a variety of soil types, making it suitable for many urban sites. Moist, well drained soils provide the best conditions, but the plant will tolerate hot, dry sites, including various city conditions. The unique bark is grey or black and broken into scaly, squarish blocks, making it easy to identify. The dark green leaves are 2-6 inches long, with smooth edges, alternating position along the branch. Young persimmons grow in a triangular form but will gradually become more oval with age.
The common persimmon is dioecious, meaning that fruit will only produce on female trees, and pollination is only successful if male trees are in the area. In late May flowers start to bloom, female flowers are creamy white, fragrant and borne singly, while male flowers are found in clusters. This species is known for its delicious orange fruit that is produced in the fall – so much so that the Latin name Diospyros means “divine fruit” or “fruit of the Gods” in Greek. It is critical to wait until the fruit is ripe or falls on the ground, an unripe persimmon will make you pucker uncomfortably.
We are not the only ones to enjoy this bounty, as all parts of the common persimmon are valuable to wildlife and pollinators too. A host plant to the beloved Luna moth, caterpillars rely on the dark green leaves; nectar-rich blossoms attract bees and butterflies alike. This handsome tree is easily managed in the home landscape because of a natural immunity to most insects and tree diseases.
Black cherry: a beacon for pollinators
Commonly called wild cherry, black cherry is one of our most important native trees. Its ecological value is perhaps exceeded only by the oak. Black cherries are the host plant to over 450 species of butterflies and moths, including many charismatic species such as the Eastern tiger swallowtail and the ironically named red-spotted purple. In addition to being a host plant for caterpillars, white showy flowers bloom March through June attracting an array of pollinators with an abundance of nectar.
This species produces dark, almost black fruits the size of a blueberry in long clusters. These fruits are an important food source for 33 species of birds and many mammals. They can be eaten raw and are commonly used in jellies, jams, pies, syrups and even wine! While the benefits to pollinators and wildlife are vast with this species, it should be noted that other parts such as the leaves, twigs, bark, and seeds are poisonous to livestock and household pets such as cats and dogs.
This adaptable tree can be found throughout the state, but grows best in deep, well drained soils with a spot in full sun or part shade. While this deciduous tree can grow up to 100 feet tall, it is frequently found as an intermediate species in the forest canopy around 50 feet. The unique, dark, scaly bark of black cherry makes it easy to identify in the forest this time of year and the beautiful wood is used for cabinets, furniture, and flooring. The benefits and unique aesthetic of the black cherry tree would make a great addition to any landscape.
Chickasaw plum: a haven for birds
Chickasaw plum, a small, twiggy, thicket-forming tree with the potential to reach heights of 10-20 feet at maturity, offers a plethora of benefits that extend far beyond its appearance. One advantage of this species is its adaptability to various soil types, thriving in almost any conditions. However, it does display a preference for moist, well-drained to sandy soils in full sun or part shade. Depending on the light conditions, the tree’s growth pattern varies, with denser colonization in full sun and a more delicate, airy appearance in part shade.
In early spring, branches are adorned with beautiful white, fragrant flowers. The blossoms are not only a delight for the senses, but also attract essential pollinators. Chickasaw plum is self-pollinating; as the season progresses, these blossoms give way to small, half-inch drupes that mature into yellow or red fruits in late summer. For wildlife enthusiasts, this tree is an absolute treasure, as its thicket-like structure provides nesting and roosting opportunities for birds, while the fruits serve as a delectable treat for various species of wildlife. The bark is similar to that of black cherry, smooth reddish brown with large horizontal lenticels. This is a deciduous tree, that will lose its thin, green leaves in fall, leaving nothing but the fruit and bark for identification.
The tree’s maintenance requirements are minimal once established, and it will tolerate drought if care is taken in the first few growing season to water weekly and limit weeds and grass within the tree’s drip line. This, coupled with the tree’s ability to create diverse habitat for wildlife, makes it an attractive addition to any landscape.
If your yard doesn’t already have a native fruit tree, consider adding one this season! You’ll be delighted by the joy of picking fresh fruit straight from your yard, and the entire ecosystem will benefit. Fruit trees provide habitat and food for a variety of species large and small, fostering biodiversity in urban and suburban areas and promoting the flourishing of wildlife.
Don’t forget to join the Environmental Services Department for the 48th annual Arbor Day Tree Giveaway on January 27th, 2024, from 9 a.m. to noon at Rob Fleming Park.
