These “stone fruit” species add diversity to a wildlife planting — they bloom differently than apples/pears/persimmons and drop in windows that complement your main soft-mast trees. Diversity spreads risk and gives wildlife a greater selection of food sources.
Plum Trees
Plums are valuable for September drops — right as bucks begin to disperse and pre-season interest builds. Blue Hill offers grafted plum varieties (clones of proven parents) so you get consistent, appropriately sized fruit for deer, plus built-in disease resistance. The main plum disease is black knot (fungus Apiosporina morbosa), which can severely limit fruit production; our selections resist it.
- NY9® Plum — self-fertile European-type plum; high-quality fruit with blue skin and amber-green flesh, about golf-ball sized. A Standard × Stanley cross with excellent black-knot resistance and strong resistance to brown rot, blossom blight, leaf spot, and fruit rot. Grafted onto standard seedling rootstock → large tree, 20′+. September drop, zones 5–8.
- Bluebyrd Plum — vigorous, hardy, productive European-type plum; excellent black-knot resistance. Bright blue skin, yellow flesh; medium-to-large fruit with great flavor and high sugar. Grafted onto standard seedling rootstock → 20′+. September drop, zones 5–8.
Notes: European plums benefit from a second plum nearby for best set; both above are noted self-fertile but planting more than one variety improves production and adds bloom overlap.
Cherry Trees
Cherries add early-season diversity and bloom timing that differs from the apple family.
- Benton® Cherry and Stardust™ Cherry — grafted cherries, mature ~20′+, zones 5–8. Stardust™ is self-fertile. (Drop notes on product pages; cherries generally add a distinct bloom/fruit window.)
Peach Trees
- Glohaven Peach — grafted, self-fertile peach; mature ~25′+, zones 5–8. An early (roughly September) soft-mast option that adds diversity and a large, attractive fruit.
Planting these species
- Sun: 6+ hours.
- Soil: moist, well-drained; soil test recommended.
- No nitrogen on the roots at planting; use 0-20-20 or amend per a soil test.
- Protection: cage/fence and protect the base from rodents; guard trunks from buck rub. (See Protecting Young Trees.)
Key takeaways
- Plums (September drop, black-knot resistant) and peaches/cherries add bloom and drop diversity to your plot.
- Most are grafted on standard rootstock → large, productive trees.
- Several are self-fertile, but a second variety improves set and bloom overlap.
- They great for human consumption too!