Methley Plum

The Methley Plum is a resilient, early-fruiting tree that quietly transforms your land into a wildlife magnet. In spring, its branches come alive with a cascade of soft white blossoms, signaling that warmer days have arrived. By early summer, those flowers yield deep purple plums—sweet, juicy, and just tart enough to pull whitetails in when other food sources are still waking up.Growing 15-20’ with a rounded, open canopy, the Methley thrives in full sun and takes to a range of soils, from loamy to sandy, with little fuss. Its smooth, grayish bark and leaves that blush red in fall lend a subtle charm to your landscape, but it’s those early plums that do the heavy lifting, drawing deer and birds alike. Self-fertile and reliable, it fruits generously on its own, though a second plum variety nearby can improve harvest. Plant it solo or pair it with a native plum or crabapple to keep the wildlife moving through from summer to fall.In USDA zones 5-9, the Methley Plum is a steady performer for landowners aiming to boost their deer habitat. It’s a quiet workhorse—early fruit, easy care, and tracks in the dirt tell the story.