Can a plum tree survive a major split like this?

With a split this large, get a qualified tree-care professional to assess it before trying to pull, strap, or bolt anything back together. They can check how much sound wood and bark remain and whether the damaged section is safe to remove. A tree may keep growing after losing a major limb, but there’s no reliable way to judge its long-term prospects from the description alone.

Don’t count on a strap or a bolt to make a heavily split limb structurally sound again. If the damaged part has to come off, make sure the remaining tree gets a proper cut rather than leaving a ragged tear. The injury may also reveal decay or an older weak point, so the tree’s condition matters as much as the size of the break.

Heavy crops can put a lot of strain on plum branches. If the tree is kept, thinning an unusually dense crop in future seasons may reduce the load. For routine shaping, plum pruning is generally done after harvest, but a fresh break is a separate problem and shouldn’t wait for the usual pruning window if it’s unsafe.