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Stark® Beach Plum
Stark® Beach Plum
Stark® Beach Plum

Stark® Beach Plum

15 ReviewsAsk Questions

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Description

Grow small, tasty plums prized for jams and jellies. An asset to your landscape — fragrant white flowers in spring attract birds, bees, and butterflies. 3/4-inch fruit may vary from purplish-black to red when ripe. Natural bush-form can be pruned into a tree form if desired — simply remove low limbs and suckers to encourage singular trunk development. Keep pruned at a manageable size for easy harvest. Tolerant of poor soils. Beach plums, a North American native species, were first described circa late 1700s. Cold-hardy. Freestone. Ripens in late August. Seedling. Plant two or more of the same variety for proper pollination and larger crops. (Prunus maritima)

Characteristics

Bloom Color White
Fruit Color Purple
Fruit Size Small
Ripens/Harvest Late August
Shade/Sun Full Sun
Soil Composition Loamy, Sandy
Soil Moisture Well Drained
Soil pH Level 6.0 - 7.0
Taste Sweet Yet Tart
Texture Firm
Years to Bear 2 - 3
Zone Range 4 - 8

Zone Compatibility

This Variety's Zone Range 4 - 8
My Hardiness Zone ?
The USDA hardiness zones offer a guide to varieties that will grow well in certain climates. Each zone corresponds to the minimum winter temperatures experienced in a given area. Make sure that your hardiness zone lies within the zone compatability range of this variety before ordering.

Pollination

This variety requires another one for adequate pollination.

Cross-pollination by a different variety is key to its growing and bearing success. Plant one of these varieties within 50' for best pollination.

Tools & Supplies

Having the proper tools and supplies when growing your own can make the difference between a good harvest and a great harvest! Here's a list that our experts recommend for this variety.

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.

Read about how to grow plum trees »

Our Promise of Satisfaction

1 Year Warranty

Every order comes with our promise of satisfaction. If you aren't completely satisfied with your order, let us know within one year for a free one-time replacement or refund.

Questions & Answers

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Why did you choose this?
Stark Bro's Store
I have bee hives & thought the blooms in the spring would bee good for them!
Kevin M on Mar 24, 2019
Already have one, I need a pollinator.
Laura P on Mar 17, 2019
I have bee hives & thought the blooms in the spring would bee good for them!
Kevin M on Mar 24, 2019
These are worth there weight in gold on Cape Cod
Joseph V on Mar 18, 2019
Already have one, I need a pollinator.
Laura P on Mar 17, 2019
I want a low hedge with edibles
Guy K on May 9, 2017
beach plum jam is wonderful
Chris H on Mar 14, 2017
I'm hoping this is the plum tree that I used to pick plums off of along the creek when I was a child
LOIS B on Feb 10, 2017
I like plums and i like to use the yard for producing a crop that can be enjoyed by the family, the horses can enjoy the grass but i like the fruit
TIM M on Jun 12, 2016
It reminds me of the wild plums of my childhood.
Eileen G on Jun 9, 2016
I already own one and need another for pollination.
Lorraine S on Jun 3, 2016
I chose this for cooking and Jam.
Toni R on Apr 20, 2016
I know the beach plum grows as a native in my area. I'm hoping to have an easy to grow casual hedge that will provide flower for pollinators and fruit for me and the birds with little effort on my part.
Kathleen H on Mar 29, 2016
I love Beach Plums from my days in N. H. and I thought I would like to see if they could grow in my sandy soil with a misting micro climate.
Betti B on Mar 10, 2016
sandy soil tolerant of poor soils
Heidi P on Mar 9, 2016
I needed a pollinator for the Superior Plum.
Thomas P on Feb 23, 2016
These are worth there weight in gold on Cape Cod
Joseph V on Mar 18, 2019
I want a low hedge with edibles
Guy K on May 9, 2017
Will beach plums pollinate with Japanese or other varieties of plum tree?
Wendy W on Apr 22, 2017
BEST ANSWER: I have asked this same question of several professional sources, and the only response I received was that they may cross-pollinate if they bloom at the same time. Because of this, I wouldn't depend solely on the beach plum as a pollinator for your other types of plum.
This says "Tolerant of poor soils." Does that mean poorly drained? After a lot of rain, my planting site stays soggy for a while. Would this be a good choice? It says "well drained" too though.
Karen B on Mar 29, 2017
BEST ANSWER: If you have clay soil, that is soil with poor drainage. In this instance, "poor soil" means soil that is lacking humus, nutrients, tilth and/or sufficient microorganisms for healthy growth. All fruit trees need good drainage, which can be improved to some degree with soil amendments, and also by planting higher than ground level and creating a mound of soil up to the crown, then mulching.
Can you tell me what varieties are compatible for fertilization?
Shannon L on Mar 31, 2020
BEST ANSWER: Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is a shrub that can grow up to 5 feet tall. It produces clusters of purple, blue, and white flowers. The root and leaves of the comfrey plant have been used in traditional medicine in many parts of the world.

Green and Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) This is a beautiful groundcover that attracts beneficial insects and can grown in partial shade.

Dwarf Coreopsis (Coreopsis auriculata nana) This is another beautiful groundcover that attracts beneficial insects.

Ramps (Allium tricoccum) a.k.a. Wild Leeks, are early Spring vegetables and grows well in the shade

Camas (Camassia quamash) has edible bulbs and has flowers that attract beneficial insects. (Native to west US)
I bought 3 beach plums 3-4 years ago. I may get my first plums this year. The detail info is confusing. Do I need multiple plants for pollination or multiple varieties?
Donna G on Jul 28, 2019
BEST ANSWER: Seedlings only require another seedling of the same variety for pollination. Only grafted trees require another variety for pollination. This is a seedling.
Seeds in fruits?
Paully j on Apr 6, 2019
BEST ANSWER: There are tiny seeds inside the small pit. This is a stone fruit.
Is this a Prunus Maritima?
Sandra B on Mar 18, 2019
BEST ANSWER: Yes, it is.
Can beach plums be grown in containers?
Rebecca B on Jan 28, 2019
BEST ANSWER: Sure! it's a naturally dwarf tree so it would be easy to manage.
I have Stark Beach plum product # 135606. What do you recommend as a pollinator?
Ed P on May 26, 2018
BEST ANSWER: You can simply plant two of these; a different variety isn't necessary.
what is the suggested pollinator for the Stark Beach Plum?
Debbie R on May 16, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Thank you for contacting us! Just plant two or more for proper pollination and larger crops.

Customer Reviews

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Stark Beach Plums
Anyone who lives on the MA coast knows that beach plums are worth their weight in gold, making one of the world's most prized jellies. Unfortunately the wild bushes often grow amidst thickets of poison ivy. I ordered 4 plants from Stark Bros, and they arrived bigger than I expected, with a good root system, and in very good condition. They broke dormancy quickly after planting, and put on good growth the first season, although it was a very dry summer. I'm VERY pleased both with the plants and with the customer service team at Starks! Thumbs up, guys - I'll be back!
May 15, 2017
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Thought I would give the Beach Plum a try. I live in northeast Pennsylvania and planted two of these in 2015. Unfortunately, both plants died before their first winter so I don't know if they would have made it thru one of our winters. The size of the plants, small, may have been a contributing factor.
May 8, 2017
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Stark Beach Plum
Planted two beach plums because I grew up at the beach and missed having them at the end of the summer. I planted these in Frederick Maryland, in clay heavy soil (although it was slightly amended). They are planted on the hottest, driest area of our yard and they are fantastic. They don't get any fertilizer or additional water (except for the first year they were planted). They are large, and produce tons of fruit every year. They do produce more every other year, but even on the off years, there is plenty of fruit.
February 27, 2018
Love the beach plum
We absolutely love the beach plums (10) that we put in several years ago. They were awesome bare root plants. They have become one of our favorite and most productive plantings. We ordered another batch of bushes and they weren't nearly as big as our first group and had dried out too much and onely one sprouted after planting. We know Starks has an excellent guarantee policy and very good customer service dept and would have replaced the plants if i hadn't cheesed out and lost our return receipt/label. So totally recomend the beach plums, but keep your receipt/label just in case !
May 3, 2017
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Stark Beach Plum
We planted ours a couple of years ago in a sandy, dry area, near the road. They are now about a foot and a half feet tall---and have managed quite well--even in this droughty year.
We are looking forward to the blossoms---and someday---FRUIT!
August 15, 2016
Purchased
 over 5 years ago
Beach Plum Bliss
The beach plums arrived well packaged and in good condition. I have always known beach plums to thrive in poor soil but they did not take well to the heavy clay soil I have. It didn't help that one got run over by my grass cutting guy. It came back the next season and is hanging in there. When I looked locally for beach plums in VA one nursery north of DC has them but they are $34. I planted 2 beach plums from Stark Bro's in my last house in PA and they grew very quickly in the builders soil.
May 10, 2017
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Beach plum
Such a beautiful tree. The shipping was well pack and tree was healthy. It's flower but has not fruited. So I can't wait for the fruit. It's not fuzzy and growth is not aggressive. Just make sure to put sand in it's surrounding.
May 18, 2016
Purchased
 over 5 years ago
Hanging in there!
We thought we had lost these but have bounced back. Leafing out nicely.
May 13, 2016
Purchased
 over 5 years ago
Beach Plum Fantasies
My plum is only 2 years old and is looking fine but has not really taken off yet. I was careful to prepare the soil for good drainage but it's too early to tell if it's going to feel at home.
I doubt if you sell this item for its fruit, which is pretty tart, I think, and felt fortunate to even find it in your catalog. If you don't push this item for its fruit, you could sell it as a way for people to remember pleasant times at the beach. I've seen it growing wild along the Lake Michigan sand dunes, and that's really why I planted it, to give myself a touch of the beach when I'm not there.
May 29, 2017
Purchased
 over 3 years ago
growth immediate in spring
Received in the fall and this spring it started to take off. It's now Sept. and do not expect fruit but pleased with the growth so far.
September 4, 2016

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