Prunus americana Marshall. Common name: American Wild Plum. Phenology: Mar-Apr; Jul-Aug. Habitat: Upland forests, bottomland forests, fencerows, usually in mesic situations. Distribution: ME to SK, south to n. peninsular FL, AR, OK, NM, and AZ.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, Can, Fl3, FNA9, GrPl, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, S, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, WV, Robertson (1974); = Prunus americana Marshall var. americana — F, G, RAB, S13; > Prunus americana Marshall var. americana — Il. Basionym: Prunus americana Marshall 1785
Links to other floras: = Prunus americana - FNA9
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: UPL
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: UPL
- Midwest: UPL
- Northcentral & Northeast: UPL
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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plant sale text: American plum is a small, deciduous tree, often forming thickets in the wild from root sprouts. It blooms in early spring before the leaves develop with clusters of small, white flowers. In mid-summer, the green fruits ripen to red; they are quite tasty and can be eaten plain or made into jam. The fruits are smaller than cultivated plums, and a more "wild" tasting fruit. American plum has a wide distribution and can tolerate a variety of soil conditions. The genus Prunus supports up to 429 lepidoptera species.
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native range: Eastern & Central US and Canada
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