American Plum

Prunus americana

Overview: American plum grows as an understory shrub or small tree (from 10’ up to 35’) with spreading branches. It has showy large white flowers in the spring before the leaves appear. It produces red plums that you can eat. The fall foliage can be electric red to pale yellow.

Harvesting: The red fruits ripen and are ready to pick in August or September.

Taste and Flavor: The fruit has a tough, sour outer skin, but is sweet and juicy on the inside.

Growing Conditions: Thrives in full sun to partial shade, and tolerates various soil types (including clay and alkaline soils) as long as they are well-drained. It prefers moist conditions but can tolerate some drought.

Cultivation: A fast grower, the shrub forms thickets, spreading by suckers once established. Prune these back regularly to maintain the desired size and shape. The shrub has a short lifespan so consider letting some suckers grow after several years to allow new saplings to develop.

Culinary Uses: The plums can be eaten fresh, and used in jellies and preserves. They can also be halved and dried like prunes, spread in a thin sheet and dried as fruit leather.

Other uses: Many Indigenous nations use the American Plum. The Cheyenne used the branches for their Sun Dance and the Navajo used the roots to make a red dye. American Plum is also grown for erosion control, because of its spreading root system.

Interesting Facts: Many types of birds also love eating these plums and it attracts many different types of bees too. It provides valuable nesting cover for birds and is a host to many butterflies.

Allergies and Precautions: This plant has thorns or prickles. Like all plums, the seeds contain the toxin hydrocyanic acid and can cause illness if eaten in large quantities.