There are several varieties of plum, with origins in Europe, Japan, the Middle East (Purpleleaf Plums), as well as North America. The Texas climate is typically too extreme for the European cultivars--none of them are recommended for Central Texas. Plant at least two varieties to ensure pollination. The most recommended varieties are Japanese or Japanese-hybrid plum varieties. The large-fruited European-type plums that commonly reach the supermarkets are not as well adapted here because of greater disease susceptibility and lower production. (ag)
There are several plum varieties that are native to North America.
Prunus mexicana
The native plum of Texas. It is much easier to grow than the other varieties, but the fruit is not that good for eating. It's mostly good for making jams and jellies from the fall-maturing fruit. (og). It might also be good for making plum wine or brandy. Wildlife loves the fruit. (jjl) It is a single-trunk tree, growing to 25 feet, with striking pinkish-white flowers in very early spring. In late fall, you will be blessed with large, purple fruit, averaging about 1-1/4 inches in diameter. (tg)
Prunus gracilis
Prefers sandy soils of Texas. This type of plum forms a thicket. It can mature anywhere from 2 to 15 feet. (tg)
Prunus umbellata
Blooms in early spring like the Mexican Plum. And, like it, the Flatwoods Plum does not form a thicket opting to be a large shrub or a small tree, topping out at 20 feet. The fruit is on the smallish side, about 1/2 inch in diameter, but has an excellent taste and makes terrific jellies and preserves. (tg)
Prunus munsoniana
Is a thicket forming plant, growing to 25 feet in excellent conditions. The showy, white flowers are followed, in late summer, by a distinctive, thin-skinned, juicy plum better than anything you can buy at your favorite grocery store. (tg)
Prunus rivularis
One of the common plums, often found as thicket along creekbeds and fence rows. "It got it's name because even a hog wouldn't eat it." (tg)
The Japanese plums are those most familiar to most Americans, outside of the European plums, that don't fair well in the hot Texas summers.
Prunus salicina 'Bruce'
Large red plum, commonly used in commercial plantings. Productive variety used for fresh eating, and, especially, for jams. Requires variety Methley as a pollinator. Suited to northern three-fourths of Texas. Very early variety, ripening late May. (ns)
Recommended by ag, mg, og, ns
Prunus salicina 'Methley'
Medium-sized deep purple plum with red flesh. Excellent both fresh and in jams. Self-pollinating, can also be used to pollinate other varieties. Adapted to northern three-fourths of Texas. Ripens early season. (ns) A good choice as it will pollinate most other Japanese cultivars. (jjl)
Recommended by ag, mg, og, ns, tf
Prunus salicina 'Morris'
Very large, bright red plum with red flesh throughout. Good flavor and high sugar content. Increasingly popular, an excellent variety. Cross pollination advisable. Adapted to northern half of state. Ripens late June to early July. (ns) Not recommended for zone 'E' Central Texas. (ns)
Recommended by ns, og
Prunus salicina 'Ozark Premier'
Large yellow and red fruit with yellow flesh. Excellent flavor. Tree is quite productive. Self-pollinating. Suited to northern half of state. Ripens late season. (ns) Juicy, yellow flesh; clingstone, small pit. Late summer. Burbank x Methley. Rather large. Precocious and consistently productive. (Cummins Nursery)
Recommended by ns, og
Prunus salicina 'Santa Rosa'
An early season plum, the Santa Rosa is a medium large, crimson to purplish red, lightly freckled plum with yellow flesh slightly suffused with pink especially near the pit. The fruit is firm, sweet, juicy, and aromatic. One of the most frequently planted of the Japanese plums. It is a self pollinating tree and thus can be planted in locations where pollination is not needed. It is excellent to use for home drying along with its fresh taste when ripe. Zones: 4-9. (Greenwood Nursery) Another Luther Burbank introduction, and still an important variety. Medium-large, bright red fruit, ripening midseason. Vigorous, precocious, productive tree. (Cummins Nursery)
Prunus cerasifera 'Allred'
Large dual-purpose plant, with attractive reddish purple foliage for the landscape, and red fruit of good quality. (ns) 'Allred' is a seedling of 'Pissardii' that arose in the U.S. (Amity, Arkansas) in 1939. It is still in the nursery trade. The leaves are red only in spring; by midsummer they are bronzy-green. The clone is valued for its fruit, not as an ornamental. (Arthur Lee Jacobson - Purpleleaf Plum Trees)
Recommended by ag, mg, ns, og