Prunus americana

Common Names

American Plum, Wild Plum, Hog Plum

Summary

Prunus americana, commonly called American plum, is a native North American small tree or suckering shrub that typically reaches 10–25 feet tall with a broad crown and thorny branches that form thickets, it bears white spring flowers and edible plums about 1 inch in diameter, color ranging from red to yellow, with elliptic to obovate leaves 2–4 inches long, and it is widely distributed across eastern and central North America in woodlands, pastures, streams, roadsides, and hedgerows, in cultivation it prefers full sun to partial shade in well-drained soils and is hardy in USDA zones 3–9, tolerating drought and dry soils, it can be grown as a specimen, hedge, or windbreak and forms dense thickets via suckering, so removing unwanted suckers helps manage spread, fruits are edible and commonly used for jams and jellies, while wildlife benefits include habitat and nectar for pollinators, maintenance includes occasional pruning and monitoring for pests such as plum curculio and brown rot.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

180-300 inches

Spread

180-300 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

There is no single ideal soil for Prunus americana; it is adaptable to many soils, with a preference for well-drained soils.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

5.0-7.0, Slightly acidic to neutral, Poor in alkaline pH

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring (April–June)

Foliage Color

Dark green foliage in summer, dark green on the upper surface with a pale underside, turning yellow to red in autumn (orange-red in fall).

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow to red, with orange-red, yellow-orange, gold/yellow, and red/burgundy colors observed

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast growth early on, about 2–5 feet in the first year, with growth slowing after flowering and fruiting.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds