Description
Also called toka plum
Easy-to-grow fruit that smells and tastes like bubblegum! This heavy-producing tree yields crops of medium-to-large plums. Fruit has reddish-bronze skin and juicy yellow flesh that’s as sweet as candy. Tree has a lovely, erect, vase shape. Originates from South Dakota in 1911. Tolerant of temperatures as low as -50ºF. Cold-hardy. Clingstone. Ripens in July. Pollinator required: Choose another plum variety. See recommended pollinators below. (Prunus americana x Prunus salicina)
Survival Guaranteed!
Since 1816, Stark Bro’s has promised to provide customers with the very best fruit trees and plants. It’s just that simple. If your trees or plants do not survive, please let us know within one year of delivery. We will send you a free one-time replacement, with a nominal shipping fee of $9.99. If the item in question is not available, we can issue a one-time credit to your account equaling the original product purchase price or issue you a refund. Read more about our warranty policy.
Characteristics
| Bloom Color | Cream, White |
| Bloom Time | Mid |
| Chill Hours | 500 - 600 |
| Fruit Color | Red |
| Fruit Size | Medium - Large |
| Hardiness Zone Range | 4 - 8 |
| Pollination | Pollinator Required |
| Ripens/Harvest | July |
| Shade/Sun | Full Sun |
| Soil Composition | Loamy |
| Soil Moisture | Well Drained |
| Soil pH Level | 6.0 - 7.0 |
| Taste | Sweet |
| Texture | Firm |
| Years to Bear | 3 - 6 |
Size & Spacing
Mature Size
| Standard | 18 - 20' tall x 18 - 20' wide |
| Dwarf | 8 - 10' tall x 8 - 10' wide |
Recommended Spacing
| Standard | 18 - 20' |
| Dwarf | 8 - 10' |
Zone Compatibility
Pollination
Tools & Supplies
Planting & Care
Learn all about how to grow plum trees in The Growing Guide. An entire section of our website dedicated to your growing success.
Shipping Information
Arrives when it's time to plant
Questions & Answers
The toka is self-pollinating and will produce fruit if planted alone. I have one of these and the plums are small, but extremely good eating. Mine is planted 15’ from a Black Ice plum.
Bubblegum® (or Toka) Plum has a chill-hours requirement of only about 400 hours. The Supreme XL tree is two years old, but is exceptionally vigorous. A Stark® Supreme Tree is one of the season's top-grade, bare-root trees that gives you a head start on growing. When Supreme trees are shipped, they are about 4-5' tall and/or with a 5/8" or larger trunk diameter.
I have our Bubblegum Plum planted within 15 feet or less of native Missouri “American Plum" trees. I did so because the Superior Plum is difficult to get. (Although, I am ordering one this evening.) Our Bubblegum Plum tree flowers first but overlaps with the American Plums. It sets fruit, but we keep getting frosts while it flowers and just after. Eventually, it drops the fruit. It is still a young tree that is just starting to look mature. I am not 100% sure if the frost is the problem. Last year during the winter, I pruned it more aggressively, but the frost hit it again. I am hoping for a late spring or one that stays warm from March onward. If so, I will know if my experimentation with the American Plum provides adequate pollination. By the way, the American Plums are the same age or younger and follow the same fruiting pattern as the Bubblegum Plum. My gut feeling says the problem is the late frost.
Good news! You are all set. Santa Rosa and Methley with take care of your Bubblegum Plum.
It would be an iffy proposition, because Bubblegum blooms later than Santa Rosa.
One plum variety that comes to mind is called 'Black Ice' and it has red flesh, plus it is a recommended pollinator for the Bubblegum plum.
I have standard drawf middle size one, it is about 7 feet tall now, very healthy, beautiful. I cut several branches off it this spring so I’m not sure about width. My bubble gum plum tree is 2 years old in my yard now. I’m very happy with it
Yes it has
Can’t answer that because I planted with a Santa Rosa and to be honest I’m loving the Santa Rosa better, taste wise. I live on Long Island NY Growth is awesome though! Needs heavy pruning.
It seems that the bloom times overlap in my zone but in my case the superior plum blooms 1st then 2-5 days later the bubblegum plum. this is my 6th spring and if it warms up to the mid 70's for 2-4 days they explode into bloom at the same time.
Customer Reviews
I needed a pollinator for other plums.
The taste
Yes
I chose this tree for the price and because I needed it to pollinate the other plum tree I bought. I've never tried it and I hope it's so good. The other trees I've gotten are amazing