wildlifeman, If these are groves of suckering native plums, then the suckers are genetic clones of the original seedlings in these clumps, and the fruit will be identical to those you are so fond of. The native Chickasaw plums here in the Southeast sucker prolifically, and it's a simple thing to dig a few suckers and transplant them - Voila! you'll have your own plum thicket in virtually no time. Air layering might work, but digging suckers in the dormant season and transplanting will be much easier - and establishment will probably be faster as well. I'd be marking some likely prospects now, for digging this fall or late next winter. Some of these native plums root relatively easily from cuttings, so if you'd care to give that a try now, you don't have much to lose.

I'm not the best person to recommend varieties for NM- I know the northeast. What's your elevation? I'd think New Mexico would be a good site compared to TX (less humidity) but I'd grow something like Empress there. Better quality and it does equally well in the northeast as in CA so it probably is pretty good where you are. I don't know if it's self fertile though. I think Castleton is and is a perfect shaped home orchard tree as grown on Myro. It's naturally pretty dwarf and a consistent cropper. But as I say, my experience is in the northeast. Maybe you should post another message asking about best E plums for New Mexico.

Get some Tordon/Pathway or just plain ol' undiluted Ortho Brush-B-Gon(2,4-D & triclopyr) and apply as a basal spray/paint on the bark and cut surfaces of the suckers when you cut 'em off. That oughta kill 'em.

Hello Angeline...I would be interested in one of your Arums. What are you looking for?