Plum seeds · Seeds compared
American vs Canada Wild Plum seeds
Compare the seed parents, fruit and growth habits of these two wild plums.
15+ seeds$8.95 CAD
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View seedsFrom our listing
American Wild Plum (Prunus americana) produces small round plums with sweet tart flavour. Fruit ranges from yellow to deep red, measures about 5/8 to 1 inch across, and ripens here in late August. It is good fresh or in jam and jelly.
From our listing
Canada Wild Plum (Prunus nigra) is a hardy native tree of the prairies and parklands of Manitoba, where it is relatively rare. Its oblong red and yellow plums are usually 1 to 1.25 inches long, with sweet flesh and tart skin, and ripen here in late August after American Wild Plums have usually dropped.
Photos and fruit descriptions refer to the seed parents. These are seeds, not cloned plants; seedlings vary.
Side by side
Growing details
| Detail | American Wild Plum | Canada Wild Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Seed parent fruit size | ½ to 1 in | ¾ to 1¼ in long |
| Fruit shape | Round | Oval |
| Ripening (seed parent) | Late August to early September in Manitoba | Late August to early September in Manitoba |
| Leaves and margins | Narrower, pointed leaves with sharply serrated margins | Broadly oval to rounded, with a pointed tip; doubly toothed margins with rounded teeth |
| Suckering habit | Readily produces suckers and can form thickets | Tends to sucker less in our local observations; can form thickets elsewhere |
| Local occurrence | Common locally compared with Canada plum | Rare locally compared with American plum |
| Pollination role | Excellent pollen source for compatible plums flowering at the same time | Excellent pollen source for compatible plums flowering at the same time |
| Seed parent background | Native species, Prunus americana; grown from seed | Native species, Prunus nigra; grown from seed |
| Cold hardiness zone | 3 | 2 |
| Seed source | Manitoba | Manitoba |
| Stratification | 1 to 2 months warm, followed by 3 to 4 months cold | 1 to 2 months warm, followed by 3 to 4 months cold |
| Mature size | Not recorded | 12 to 15 ft |
| Native range | Species reference: native from central and eastern Canada to the United States | Species reference: native in central and eastern Canada and parts of the United States |
| Site and soil | Species reference: full sun to some shade; moist, sandy to loamy sites | Species habitat reference: river valleys, pastures and fencerows, especially lime soils |
| Ripening reference | Species reference: late August to early September; timing varies by seedling and site | Species reference: mid-August to early September; timing varies by seedling and site |
A closer look
More about each choice
American Wild Plum
American Wild Plum (Prunus americana) produces small round plums with sweet tart flavour. Fruit ranges from yellow to deep red, measures about 5/8 to 1 inch across, and ripens here in late August. It is good fresh or in jam and jelly.
The trees are excellent pollinators for other plums and can improve fruit set in a mixed planting. At Oak Summit Nursery, we also grow American Wild Plum as rootstock for many plum cultivars. The species provides food for wildlife and can grow as a multistem shrub or small tree.
Canada Wild Plum
Canada Wild Plum (Prunus nigra) is a hardy native tree of the prairies and parklands of Manitoba, where it is relatively rare. Its oblong red and yellow plums are usually 1 to 1.25 inches long, with sweet flesh and tart skin, and ripen here in late August after American Wild Plums have usually dropped.
The species is an excellent pollinator for hybrid plums, provides wildlife food, and can be used as plum rootstock. It usually forms a more distinct single trunk and suckers less than American Wild Plum.
These seeds came from an old orchard row likely planted for rootstock 30 to 40 years ago. The isolated trees are open pollinated mainly by other wild plums in the row. Seedlings will vary, and some hybridization is possible, but most should remain close to the species.
From the nursery
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