Chums These tough, resilient, shrubby trees derive much of their hardiness from the sandcherry (Prunus pumila var. besseyi) side of the family. Crossing sandcherry with native wild plums (Prunus americana) and in some cases with Japanese plums (Prunus salicina) beefed up the fruit with sweet flesh. The result was a fairly wide range of varieties known as cherry-plums or simply chums. Chums are very disease resistant, drought tolerant and precocious (start bearing at an early age). They make a fine ornamental too, especially in spring with arching branches covered in blossoms. While all chum fruits have astringent skin, we have selected varieties where the least of this trait comes through. 1.25-2m (4-6') bareroot trees