Tallow Wood Plant Care

Tallow Wood (Ximenia americana) belongs to the Olacaceae family within the Ximenia genus. Tallow Wood is native to the tropics, ranging from Africa, India and southeast Asia, to Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, West Indies, Central, North and South America. Tallow Wood is also known as Yellow Plum, Wild Plum, Sour Plum.

Tallow Wood displays a small tree, shrub growth habit, reaching up to 10 ft tall with a spread of approximately 8 ft. Tallow Wood produces small, fragrant white or pink flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Tallow Wood every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Tallow Wood thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Ximenia americana tolerates temperatures of 65–85°F. Tallow Wood prefers humidity levels of 50–70%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.

Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter for moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for Tallow Wood to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Tallow Wood every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter for moisture retention. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Tallow Wood is suited to USDA Zone 9b – 11b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Tallow Wood can spread to about 8 ft (2.4 m) and reach about 10 ft (3 m) tall. Space plants about 8 ft (2.4 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Tallow Wood while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Tallow Wood is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 9). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Tallow Wood can be propagated through seeds, stem cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to sourplum plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Tallow Wood is susceptible to aphids, scale insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Tallow Wood grows outdoors in USDA Zone 9b – 11b. It survives winters down to planting zone 9b. Tallow Wood is native to the tropics, ranging from Africa, India and southeast Asia, to Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, West Indies, Central, North and South America. In cooler regions, grow Tallow Wood as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.