American plum

The American plum grows as a large shrub or small tree, growing at a moderate rate to 4.6 metres (15 feet) in height and 3 m (10 ft) in width. The roots are shallow, widely spread, and send up suckers. The branches are thorny. The green leaves are alternately arranged, oval, and 5–11 centimeters (2–4+1⁄4 in) long. Blooming in spring, small white flowers with five petals occur singly or in clusters in the leaf axils. In summer, bright red globular fruits grow to about 2.5 cm (1 in) in diameter.

Similar species. Prunus nigra (Canada plum) is similar, but the fruit is comparatively yellow, smaller, and less round.

The species is native to North America from Saskatchewan and Idaho south to New Mexico and east to Québec, Maine and Florida. It has often been planted outside its native range and sometimes escapes cultivation. The plant is adapted to coarse- and medium-textured soils, but not to fine soils (silt or clay). It can survive harsh winters down to temperatures of −38 °F (−39 °C) and is tolerant of shade, with mild fire tolerance and no drought tolerance.

Many birds and animals eat the fruit, and both white-tailed deer and mule deer feed on twigs and leaves.

The sour and sweet fruit is eaten fresh and is processed as preserves, jellies, jam and wine. The tree also forms an excellent rootstock upon which to graft the domestic plum. The Plains Indians and Cheyenne ate the plums; the latter used the branches for the Sun Dance. The Navajo used the roots to make a red dye. Farms use medium to tall shrubs or trees for windbreaks, and highway or riverside plantings. Its high density of growth effectively reduces the wind velocity near the ground. Development of suckers from the root system makes American plum effective in stabilizing stream banks and gullies. It will tolerate several days of flooding. Some commercial properties plant the trees along the entrance road.

The white flowers are decorative in spring and its short, single leader makes it a popular residential landscape tree. According to botanist Charles Sprague Sargent,As an ornamental plant P. americana has real value; the long wand-like branches form a wide, graceful head which is handsome in winter and in spring is covered with masses of pure white flowers followed by ample bright foliage and abundant showy fruit.By 1950, over 200 forms had been selected for cultivation, with at least 50 cultivars known.

Eastern Native Americans planted many trees, giving many places the name of Crab Orchard.