Identifying a Florida Plum

Florida Hybrid Plums

• The Florida plums developed by the University of Florida are hybrid cultivars of Japanese plums (Prunus salicina) and ripen in early to late May. Their names all begin with the prefix “Gulf.” They are not self-fruitful, meaning you need at least two trees for pollination. Two cultivars are patented and two are unpatented -- the University of Florida has the right to control who grows and sells its patented plums. These generally grow in USDA zones 8 through 9.

Patented Florida Plums

• The earliest Florida plum to ripen, "Gulfbeauty" (Prunus salicina "Gulfbeauty") bears dark, reddish-purple plums with a yellow flesh that has a greenish hue. They are about 1 3/4 inch in diameter and are sweet and firm when ripe. The dark red to purple "Gulfblaze" (Prunus salicina "Gulfblaze") has sweet orange flesh. It is not as vigorous as "Gulfbeauty," and its 1 7/8- to 2-inch-wide plums ripen eight to 14 days later.

Unpatented Florida Plums

• "Gulfrose" (Prunus salicina "Gulfrose") yields dark, reddish-purple plums with sweet, aromatic, blood-red flesh. It ripens about one week after "Gulfblaze" and is a prolific bearer during its second year of production. Variants of "Gulfruby" (Prunus salicina "Gulfruby"), plums with sweet, yellow flesh, first appeared in 1982. "Gulfruby" ripens seven to 10 days before "Gulfblaze." Unfortunately, it is susceptible several diseases that limit its life span to five to eight years.

Wild Florida Plums

• Chicksaw plums (Perunus augustifolia) are native to a wide region of the southeastern U.S. and grow in USDA zones 6a through 9b. Their 1/2-inch-wide yellow or red plums are eaten fresh or made into jelly. Flatwood plums (Prunus umbellata) are also native plums that grow in USDA zones 8a through 9b. The 1/2- to 1-inch-wide purple plums have a dry, hard exterior. Although you can eat them, they're more popular with birds and wildlife.