Plum tree that won’t grow

Question

I bought a plum tree in a supermarket a few months ago, there is still no life in the branches, but there are shoots growing from the base, so it’s not dead. What should I do?

Thank you
Elaine Clark

Answer 1

If there still aren't any leaves you can scrape off some bark on the branches to see if it is green below. If so, it is still alive. If not, the branches are dead. If the shoots are suckers and the tree is not grafted, you might be able to grow a tree from the sucker if you can separate it with a shovel and it has roots. If it is a grafted tree the suckers are from a rootstalk and won't be the same tree you have. Check the label or look up information online to see if it is grafted onto a rootstalk.

Is this a fruit tree or a purple sand plum, which is just ornamental. The fruit is insignificant.

Here is more information about growing plum trees. You can check and see if you have yours in the right environment.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/plum/growing-plum-trees.htm