Wild Plum
Prunus americana
Clouds of fragrant white bloom in earliest spring, then summer plums for birds and wildlife. Forms a thicket rich in nesting cover.
Typically 1 quart–3 gal · $17–$85 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Aug 138 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Aug 148 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Aug 158 AM – 2 PM
White flower clouds in April, plums for birds and deer in July, a thicket that creates wildlife structure no fence can replace. wild plum is small-farm ecology in one plant.
Wild plum is one of the first trees to bloom in spring: white flowers covering the branches before the leaves emerge, clouds of white visible from a distance. The fragrance is sweet and strong, carrying on cool April air. Native bees work the flowers from the moment they open. By midsummer, yellow to red plums ripen and are consumed immediately by birds, deer, and small mammals. Spreading by root suckers, wild plum forms a thicket over time that provides nesting cover, wildlife corridors, and food production all in one. The dense thorny stems make excellent wildlife habitat structure. For an informal hedge, a naturalized border, or a wildlife planting along a fence line, wild plum delivers more ecological function per square foot than almost anything else you can plant.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown wild plum propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Average
- Mature size
- 10–20 ft · 10–15 ft wide
- Bloom time
- Early spring
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Native range
- Eastern and Central North America
Care notes for wild plum.
Full sun, adapts to a wide range of soils from dry to average. Drought tolerant once established. Spreads by root suckering. plan for a colony. Prune to maintain access and control spread. Thorny stems require gloves for management. No fertilizing needed.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside wild plum.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle complementary species for an instant habitat. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Short on Space Package
For gardeners who have an abundance of passion but are short on space, this package features tidy, upright, clump-forming natives that behave and function well in small spaces.
Shade Bed Package
Ferns, sedges, and woodland natives that thrive under existing trees.
Birder’s Paradise Package
For the avid bird watchers and budding ornithologists in our community, the Birder’s Paradise Package consists of species that Hill House Nursery staff and longtime native plant advocates such as Doug Tallamy consider ‘premier bird garden plants’.