Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Tuttlei Natal Plum
Tuttlei Natal Plum is a compact, mounding natal plum with glossy, deep green leaves that stay on all year. It grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide, a size that suits low hedges, borders and foundation beds. Fragrant white star-shaped flowers open from spring into summer, followed by red fruit. It takes full sun to part shade and gets by on little water once rooted.
Best for: low hedges and borders, foundation beds along the house, entryways, and low barrier plantings.
Plant about 3 to 4 feet apart for a low hedge or a border along a walk. It stays about 2 to 3 feet tall and fills out into a dense, glossy mound.
Its deep green leaves stay on all year, so it works along the house and at the entry. It takes full sun to part shade and can be trimmed to shape.
The stems carry forked spines, which makes it a useful low barrier along a property line. Keep it back from walks where people brush past.
Leaves can be damaged in the mid to upper 20s, so cover young plants on freezing nights. Soil that stays wet yellows the leaves and can rot the roots.
- Low hedge3 ft apart, center to center
- Border or bed3-4 ft apart
Water deeply once or twice a week the first year. Once rooted, water deeply and regularly in summer, far less in winter, and let the upper soil dry between soaks.
Leaves yellow when alkaline soil stays wet, and poor drainage can rot the roots. Let the soil dry between waterings.
Leaves can be injured in the mid to upper 20s. Cover young plants with frost cloth on freezing nights, and take it off in the morning.
It needs little pruning and is easy to trim to shape. Wear gloves, since the stems have sharp spines and the sap can irritate skin.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does Tuttlei natal plum get?
It grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide, and it grows slowly. Plan for that width when you set plants in a row.
How far apart should I plant Tuttlei natal plum?
Plant it about 3 to 4 feet apart center to center, or about 3 feet for a low hedge that closes in sooner. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for your row.
Does Tuttlei natal plum have thorns?
Yes. The stems carry sharp forked spines. Wear gloves when you prune it, and keep it back from walks and play areas.
Is natal plum fruit edible?
The red fruit is edible only when fully ripe, with a sweet and tart cranberry taste. Unripe fruit and the white sap are not to be eaten, so pick only ripe fruit.
Does the sap irritate skin?
The white sap can irritate skin. Wear gloves and long sleeves when you prune it.
When does it bloom?
Fragrant white star-shaped flowers open from spring into summer. Red fruit follows the flowers.
Can Tuttlei natal plum take full sun in Phoenix?
Yes, it grows in full sun to part shade and does best with sun. Afternoon shade helps it through the hottest Phoenix summers.
How often should I water it?
Water deeply once or twice a week the first year. Once rooted, water deeply in summer and far less in winter, letting the top of the soil dry between soaks.
How cold can Tuttlei natal plum take?
Leaves can be injured in the mid to upper 20s, and hard freezes do more damage. Cover young plants with frost cloth on freezing nights.
Why are my natal plum leaves turning yellow?
Yellow leaves usually mean alkaline soil that stays wet. Let the soil dry between waterings and make sure water drains away.
Tuttlei Natal Plum for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Tuttlei is a compact natal plum that forms a dense, glossy mound about 2 to 3 feet tall. It is used for low hedges, borders and foundation plantings in the Valley. Below is what to expect for size, spacing, water, sun, flowers, fruit and frost.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
How big does Tuttlei natal plum get?
Plan for a dense mound about 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide. It grows slowly and keeps its shape with little pruning.
How far apart to plant natal plum for a low hedge
Plant Tuttlei about 3 to 4 feet apart center to center. For a hedge that closes in sooner, use about 3 feet. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for your row.
Tuttlei vs Green Carpet natal plum
Green Carpet is a low groundcover about 1 to 2 feet tall. Tuttlei is a compact mound about 2 to 3 feet tall, better for low hedges and borders.
How often to water natal plum in Phoenix
Water deeply once or twice a week the first year. Once rooted, water deeply in summer and far less in winter, letting the top of the soil dry in between.
Natal plum flowers and fruit
Fragrant white star-shaped flowers open from spring into summer. Red fruit follows and is edible only when fully ripe.
Does natal plum need shade in Arizona?
It grows in full sun to part shade and does best with sun. Afternoon shade helps in the hottest part of a Phoenix summer.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.