Wild plum (umgwenya)
Harpephyllum caffrum
A tidy evergreen street tree that also drops sour red plums, good for jelly and a rosé-coloured wine.
Hardiness: zones 9 to 11
Light: full sun
Size: about 40 ft tall, 30 ft wide
Harvest: September to November
From: Eastern Cape to Mozambique
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food, wildlife.
Native to: Cape of South Africa, African savannas & tropics. Hardy in zones 9 to 11.
The story
The wild plum is a cousin of the mango and the marula. It is planted along streets across South Africa, and Xhosa and Zulu households have long used its bark as a traditional remedy and a dye.
Planting
Sun and well-drained soil in a climate with little frost. Plant male and female for fruit.
Growing
Water young trees. It is tidy, evergreen and wind-firm.
Harvest and use
Sour red plums in autumn, with thin flesh over a big stone: good for jelly, syrup and a rosé-colored wine. Birds and children take care of the rest.
What to watch for
Frost. Fruit drop under female trees is messy over paving.
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General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home