American PlumPrunus americana
Wildlife: American plum is highly important as wildlife cover and food. The thorny, suckering growth, when protected, forms a thicket valuable for bird nesting, loafing, and roosting, and animal loafing and bedding. Twigs and foliage provide a highly preferred browse for whitetail and mule deer. Recreation and Beautification: The thorny growth and suckering characteristics should be considered before planting this species near a recreation area. It can be used for screening and natural barriers. The fruit is used widely for making jams and jellies. Ethnobotanic: American plum was and still is used as a source of food and medicine by Native Americans in the Midwest and West.
USDA symbol: PRAM
General Information
| Plant Type | Tree |
|---|---|
| Height | 20 feet |
| Light Exposure | Sun |
| Soil Moisture | Medium |
| Bloom Color | Pink |
Tolerances
| Flooding / Inundation Tolerance | Moderate |
|---|---|
| General Resilience | 9 |
| Salt Tolerance | Low |
| Stress Tolerance | Fire Tolerant |
Pollinator Value: Very High
| Bloom Months | May |
|---|---|
| Larval Host of | Bees, Butterflies |
| Specific Pollinators Hosted | Andrena melanochroa, Satyrium titus |
| Pollinator Benefit | Insect Pollinated, Provides Nectar, Supports Generalists |
Project Planning
| Project Type | Erosion Control, Restoration |
|---|---|
| Coefficient of Conservatism | 2 |
| Herbivore Sensitivity | Medium |
| Lifespan | Perennial |
| Rate of Spread | Fast |
| Soil Stabilization | Deep |
| Vegetative Reproduction | Clonal |
Range
| County | Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Marshall, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine |
|---|---|
| Ecoregion | Driftless Area, Lake Agassiz Plain, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Glaciated Plains, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, Western Cornbelt Plains |
| Approximate Eco Province | Eastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland, Tallgrass Aspen Parklands |