★★★★★ Rated 4.8 out of 5 Stars

1 Year Warranty on All Plants

Up to 81% Off- Shop the Fall Sale Now!

Bubblegum 'Toka' Plum Tree

$13995
Size
Free Shipping - Your plants ship Monday
Plant Health Guaranteed
Free Lifetime Support
Risk-Free 1 Year Warranty

Your Plants are Guaranteed to Grow

Your plants are guaranteed to arrive happy & healthy with our 1 Year Warranty. Your order will arrive healthy and stay healthy while they adapt to your climate. If your tree arrives damaged or dies within 30 days, we'll replace it for free. If it dies after 30 days, but before 1 year, we will replace it for just 50% of the current price.

Free Shipping on All Orders

Relax... we've got you covered with free shipping on every order! We ship out so many huge plants, we've negotiated a low rate with our carriers... and we pass those savings on to you! Your plants will ship out the next business day... expertly packed so that your plants will arrive happy and healthy!

Is Now a Good Time to Plant?

Yes! Fall is one of the best times to plant!

Landscaping experts often recommend planting in fall instead of waiting until spring. Here’s why:

  • Cooler weather puts less stress on newly planted trees and shrubs.
  • Fall soil is still warm, which helps roots grow and get established.
  • Cooler temperatures mean less water is lost through the leaves, making it easier for plants to stay hydrated.
  • Even after top growth slows for winter, roots continue developing below ground.
  • Fall weather often brings more rain and less heat, making new plants easier to care for.
  • By spring, your plants already have a head start. Their established roots can support strong new leaves, branches, and flowers.
  • Trees planted in spring must establish their roots while also dealing with rising temperatures and summer heat.

Plant this fall, and your trees can spend the cooler months getting settled instead of waiting until spring to get started!

Planting your Bubblegum 'Toka' Plum Tree

Planting Instructions for Toka Plum Tree

  1. Choosing the Right Location: Plant your Bubblegum 'Toka' Plum in full sun, with at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day, for the best flowering and fruit production. It grows in USDA zones 3 through 8 and tolerates winter temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid low spots where cold air and water collect.
  2. Soil Preparation: Toka grows best in well-draining loamy or sandy soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Loosen the soil in a wide area around the planting site and mix in some compost if the soil is poor.
  3. Planting: Plant in early spring or fall while the tree is dormant. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and no deeper, set the tree at the same depth it grew in the pot, then backfill and firm gently. The tree grows 15 to 20 feet tall and wide, so space trees 12 to 15 feet apart for good air circulation.
  4. Mulching and First Watering: Water deeply right after planting to settle the soil. Spread mulch around the base to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature, keeping it a few inches away from the trunk.

Care Instructions

  1. Watering: Water deeply once a week, especially during the first two years of growth, and more often during hot, dry spells. Consistent moisture while fruit is developing in summer helps produce juicy, full-sized plums.
  2. Fertilizing: Apply a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer in early spring to support healthy growth and fruit production. Spread it evenly under the canopy and water it in, following the label rate for the tree's size.
  3. Pest and Disease Monitoring: Toka has strong natural resistance to black knot, brown rot and leaf spot. Still watch for pests like aphids and plum curculio, especially in spring and early summer, and remove fallen, damaged fruit promptly to reduce pest problems.

Maintenance and Long-Term Care

  1. Pruning: Prune annually in late winter or early spring to remove dead or weak branches. Keeping the canopy open improves airflow and sunlight, and keeps the tree at a manageable size for harvesting.
  2. Fruit Thinning: Thin fruit clusters if needed to encourage larger fruit development. When young plums are about the size of a marble, remove extras so the remaining fruits are spaced a few inches apart.
  3. Winter Care: Toka is very cold hardy and needs little winter protection. For young trees, keep a layer of mulch in place and use a trunk guard where rabbits or rodents may chew the bark.

Additional Tips for Growing Toka Plum Tree

  1. Pollination: Toka is self-fertile, so it can produce fruit without another tree. Planting a second plum variety nearby will increase your yields, and Toka is also known as an excellent pollinator for other plum trees in a backyard orchard.
  2. Years to Fruit and Harvest: Expect first fruit about 2 to 4 years after planting. Plums typically ripen in mid-to-late summer, usually July to August. Pick them when they turn a deep reddish-purple and give slightly when gently squeezed. Fresh plums keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
  3. Shipping Note: Toka plum trees cannot be shipped to AZ, OR, AR, CA, ID, LA or WA because of shipping restrictions. They can be shipped to other states.
What Customers say about the Bubblegum 'Toka' Plum Tree:

The Bubblegum 'Toka' Plum Tree thrives in Zones 3-8

Growing Zones for the Bubblegum 'Toka' Plum Tree

If you live in the green area above, we recommend the Bubblegum 'Toka' Plum Tree.

Your Growing Zone
Recommended Zones 3-8
Mature Height 15-20 ft.
Mature Width 15-20 ft.
Cannot Ship To AZ, OR, AR, CA, ID, LA, WA
Sunlight Full Sun
Botanical Name Prunus salicina 'Toka'

Plants that Make a Difference

For 20+ years, our team has shipped healthy, established plants to gardeners like you- all across the country. Every plant is selected and cared for by our plant experts before it ships to your door.

  • 20+ Years Experience

  • Superior Quality

  • Free Shipping on All Orders

  • Guaranteed to Grow

A full view of a Bubblegum 'Toka' Plum Tree with green leaves and ripening fruit.

Beware- not all Bubblegum 'Toka' Plum Trees are the same.

Be sure to get superior fruit trees, grown by experts.

Better Roots Make Stronger Plants: Some nurseries send you "bare root" fruit trees to save on shipping. Even worse, others have started digging them right out of the ground before shipping. This causes major transplant shock and long-term damage. We send you Bubblegum 'Toka' Plum Trees in soil-filled containers- ensuring a well-developed root system that is ready to grow and produce!

Healthy Plants: We've seen other nurseries grow tall fruit trees in tiny pots to save on shipping. This leads to a "root bound" tree, where the roots have outgrown their pot- they cannot absorb water and nutrients. They quickly dry out during shipment, leading to an unhealthy tree.

A cluster of pinkish-orange Bubblegum 'Toka' Plums growing among green foliage.

The Bubblegum 'Toka' Plum is a cold-hardy, heavy-producing plum known for its one-of-a-kind, bubblegum-sweet flavor.

  • Bubblegum-like flavor: intensely sweet, aromatic plums with golden-orange flesh and deep red skin
  • Self-fertile, and an excellent pollinator for other plum trees nearby
  • Very cold hardy in zones 3-8, tolerating winters down to -30°F
  • Strong natural resistance to black knot, brown rot and leaf spot

Not all plants are created equal

The Difference Is in the Roots

Every plant we ship has grown in a nursery container with its roots protected, so it arrives healthy, established and ready to thrive in your yard.

A full, branched Nationwide Plants tree in a nursery pot next to a thin bare-root tree with exposed roots Ours: container grown Theirs: bare root
Nationwide Plants Other Nurseries
How it's grown Grown in a nursery container, roots protected the whole time Pulled or dug from the field, tearing fragile roots
How it arrives Arrives in its pot with soil intact Arrives bare root, exposed and drying out
Before shipping Growing naturally until it ships Held dormant in a cooler, then shocked by a hot shipping box
Root health Strong, well-developed roots with room to grow Crammed into a small pot until it's root bound
Height Measured from the top of the soil Often includes the pot and roots
After planting Settles in quickly with less transplant shock Arrives stressed and can take years to recover, if it does

The height you see is the height you plant.

We measure every plant from the top of the soil, not the bottom of the pot. Many nurseries include the pot and roots, so a "5–6 ft." tree from them might stand only 4 ft. tall once it's planted.

Comparisons reflect common practices across the online plant industry, not any single company.

Dark red Bubblegum 'Toka' Plums hanging from slender branches with green leaves.

Honest Measurements: Some nurseries measure trees including the pot and roots, so their "6-7 ft." tree may only be about half that size when planted. We measure all of our plants from the soil line, so the height you see is what you can expect after planting.

From our nursery to your door

How We Ship Your Plants

Every order is hand-selected, watered and carefully packed so it arrives healthy and ready to plant. Here's what happens after you place your order.

  1. Hand-Picked for You

    Our team selects the best plant available for your order. For privacy trees, that's the tallest and fullest. For fruit trees, it's the best branched.

    Why it matters: Many online nurseries ship whatever is next in the row.

  2. A Deep Drink Before the Trip

    Every plant gets a thorough watering right before it's packed, so it starts the journey fully hydrated.

  3. Roots Sealed In

    We wrap the pot and roots in plastic to lock in moisture, so your plant has water to drink all the way to your door.

    Why it matters: Bare-root plants are often shipped with their roots exposed and drying out.

  4. Braced for the Ride

    Cardboard inserts are secured inside every box to hold your plant in place, so it won't slide, tip or get damaged in transit.

  5. Shipped Only by FedEx

    We ship your trees exclusively with FedEx. We've found they deliver the fastest and handle live plants the most gently.

And if anything goes wrong, every plant is backed by our 1 Year Warranty.

Healthy Roots Make a Huge Difference

  • Never buy bare-root plants. These trees are starved of nutrients, and have a low survival rate.
  • Beware of nurseries cut corners by growing in small pots. These "rootbound" plants are weak, struggle to absorb nutrients, and die quickly after planting.
  • Some nurseries try to sell oversized plants, but chop off vital roots so they can cram the rootball into a narrow box to save on shipping!
A Bubblegum 'Toka' Plum Tree in full bloom, covered in delicate white flowers.

You Want Bubblegum 'Toka' Plum Trees Grown by Experts

Some nurseries ship thin, underdeveloped fruit trees grown in tiny pots to save money. These weak, "root bound" trees can spend years recovering before they give you a real harvest.

Nationwide Plants only sends you strong Bubblegum 'Toka' Plum Trees, selected and cared for by our plant experts, with healthy, developed roots. A strong start helps your tree settle in quickly and begin bearing fruit, often around 2-4 years after planting.

  • 5 stars: 4 (100%)
  • 4 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
S
Steve Boeshans
6-7 ft.

Very, very nice tree. Packaged perfect. Very happy !

Steve Boeshans review photo
F
Frank
6-7 ft.

My tree arrived in excellent condition. It exceeded my expectations in how it was packed and appeared to be be extremely healthy.

J
Joshua

Looking good weeks after planted grown a few inches so far cant wait till it produces fruit

J
Joshua

Looking good weeks after planted grown a few inches so far cant wait till it produces fruit

Read more about the Bubblegum 'Toka' Plum Tree

Bubblegum 'Toka' Plum Tree – A Sweet and Productive Addition to Your Garden

The Bubblegum 'Toka' Plum Tree (Prunus salicina x Prunus americana) is an excellent choice if you want a reliable, cold-hardy, and highly productive fruit tree with incredibly sweet, juicy plums. Known for its distinctive bubblegum-like flavor, this hybrid plum tree is a favorite among home gardeners and orchard growers alike. With its vigorous growth, strong disease resistance, and self-fertile nature, the 'Toka' Plum is perfect for bringing fresh, homegrown fruit to your yard.

Why You’ll Love the 'Toka' Plum Tree

1. Unique Bubblegum-Like Flavor

The 'Toka' Plum stands out for its one-of-a-kind taste, often compared to bubblegum due to its intensely sweet, aromatic flavor. The fruit has a juicy, golden-orange flesh surrounded by a deep red skin, creating a beautiful contrast and making it one of the most visually appealing plums you can grow.

2. Heavy Producer of Delicious Plums

You can expect a high yield of plums from your 'Toka' tree each summer. This variety is well-known for producing an abundance of medium-sized fruit, ensuring you have plenty for fresh eating, baking, jams, and preserves.

3. Cold-Hardy and Resilient

The 'Toka' Plum thrives in colder climates, tolerating winter temperatures as low as -30°F (-34°C). Unlike many other plum varieties that struggle in northern zones, 'Toka' is a great option for growers in USDA zones 3-8.

4. Self-Fertile but Excellent Pollinator

One of the best qualities of the 'Toka' Plum is that it does not require another tree to produce fruit—though having another plum variety nearby will increase yields. Even better, 'Toka' is an exceptional pollinator for other plum trees, making it a valuable addition to any backyard orchard.

5. Disease-Resistant and Low-Maintenance

This plum tree has strong natural resistance to diseases such as black knot, brown rot, and leaf spot. It also requires minimal pruning and care, making it an easy-to-grow fruit tree for beginners and experienced gardeners alike.

Growing and Caring for Your 'Toka' Plum Tree

Planting Instructions

  • Best Time to Plant: Early spring or fall, while the tree is dormant.
  • Sun Requirements: Prefers full sun (at least 6-8 hours per day).
  • Soil Needs: Well-draining soil; grows best in loamy or sandy soil with a pH of 5.5-7.5.
  • Spacing: Plant trees 12-15 feet apart to allow for proper air circulation and growth.

Watering and Fertilization

  • Water deeply once a week, especially during the first two years of growth.
  • Apply a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer in early spring to support healthy growth and fruit production.
  • Mulch around the base to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.

Pruning and Maintenance

  • Prune annually in late winter or early spring to remove dead or weak branches.
  • Thin fruit clusters if needed to encourage larger fruit development.
  • Watch for signs of pests like aphids and plum curculio, though 'Toka' has natural resistance to many common fruit tree diseases.

Harvesting and Enjoying 'Toka' Plums

  • Ripening Time: Mid-to-late summer (typically July to August, depending on climate).
  • When to Harvest: Plums are ready when they turn deep reddish-purple and have a slight give when gently squeezed.
  • Storage: Fresh plums can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. They can also be dried, frozen, or used in preserves to enjoy their sweet flavor year-round.

Ways to Enjoy 'Toka' Plums:

  • Eat fresh for a naturally sweet, juicy treat.
  • Make delicious jams and preserves.
  • Bake into tarts, pies, or cobblers.
  • Dehydrate into chewy dried plums (prunes).

Is the 'Toka' Plum Tree Right for You?

If you're looking for a cold-hardy, disease-resistant, self-fertile, and highly productive fruit tree, the Bubblegum 'Toka' Plum Tree is an excellent choice. Its deliciously sweet, uniquely flavored plums, along with its ability to pollinate other plum trees, make it a fantastic addition to any orchard or backyard garden.

Whether you’re a beginner gardener or a seasoned grower, the 'Toka' Plum is easy to care for and rewarding to grow. Add one to your landscape today and enjoy fresh, homegrown plums for years to come!

Frequently Asked Questions about the Bubblegum 'Toka' Plum Tree

Is the Toka plum tree self-pollinating?

Yes, the Bubblegum 'Toka' Plum is self-fertile, so it can produce fruit without another tree. Planting a second plum variety nearby will increase your yields, though. Toka is also known as an excellent pollinator, making it a valuable partner for other plum trees in a backyard orchard.

How long until a Toka plum tree produces fruit?

A Toka plum tree typically begins bearing fruit about 2 to 4 years after planting, depending on the size of the tree and growing conditions. Full sun, deep weekly watering in the first two years, and a spring feeding help it establish quickly and start producing sooner.

What does a Bubblegum Toka plum taste like?

A Bubblegum 'Toka' plum has an intensely sweet, aromatic flavor often compared to bubblegum. The fruit has juicy golden-orange flesh inside deep red skin. It is delicious eaten fresh and also works well in jams, preserves, pies, tarts, and dried as prunes.

When are Toka plums ready to harvest?

Toka plums typically ripen in mid-to-late summer, usually July to August depending on your climate. Pick them when they turn a deep reddish-purple and give slightly when gently squeezed. Fresh plums keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

What growing zones can Toka plum trees grow in?

Toka plum trees grow in USDA zones 3 through 8 and tolerate winter temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit. That makes Toka a great plum for northern gardeners, where many other plum varieties struggle with harsh winters. Few plums are as dependable in the north.

How big does a Toka plum tree get?

A Toka plum tree typically grows 15 to 20 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide at maturity. Plant trees 12 to 15 feet apart for good air circulation. Annual pruning in late winter keeps the canopy open and the tree at a manageable size for harvesting.

How much sun does a Toka plum tree need?

A Toka plum tree needs full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day, for the best flowering and fruit production. Plant it in well-draining loamy or sandy soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5, avoiding low spots where water collects.

Is the Toka plum tree disease resistant?

Yes, the Toka plum tree has strong natural resistance to black knot, brown rot, and leaf spot. You should still watch for pests like aphids and plum curculio, and prune annually to remove dead or weak branches and keep good airflow through the canopy.

How do I care for a newly planted Toka plum tree?

Water a newly planted Toka plum tree deeply once a week, especially during its first two years. Apply a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer in early spring and mulch around the base to hold moisture. Plant in early spring or fall while the tree is dormant.

Can Toka plum trees ship to my state?

Toka plum trees have shipping restrictions for AZ, OR, AR, CA, ID, LA, and WA, so they cannot be shipped to those states. They can be shipped to other states. Nationwide Plants offers the tree in 3-4 foot, 4-5 foot, and 6-7 foot sizes.
Back to top