Prunus americana (American Plum)

Description

This native small tree provides multi-season interest both to the gardener and to wildlife. In spring butterflies and bees are drawn to the white flowers. It is the larval host of several butterflies. In summer, birds and small mammals feed on the fruit. The thorny branches provide good nesting cover for birds. The fall color is gorgeous and the striped bark is beautiful in winter. The fruit is edible fresh and makes excellent jellies. It thrives on well drained slopes as well as seasonally flooded wetlands.  They grow well in sun or part shade. Plums are fairly resistant to deer. If deer pressure is heavy, surround the young plants with Teucrium canadense, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Verbena scabra, Tripsacum dactyloides or Tridens flavus until it grows above browse-level.  Our plants were propagated from native population on my dad and stepmom’s worn out clay hills in Bibb County, GA.  (They will be fine on your construction compacted soil also). The pictures are from the Lady Bird Johnston Wildflowwer Center. Click here to see more information about this locally rare tree. http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PRAM