Beach plum vs western sandcherry
Beach plum comes from sandy coastal habitats in eastern North America. Western sandcherry is a prairie native, including here in Manitoba. Both fit a much smaller space than a typical plum tree.
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| Detail | Beach Plum | Western Sandcherry |
|---|---|---|
| Native range | Atlantic coast of northeastern North America | Northern Great Plains, including Manitoba |
| Fruit | Small purple plums, tart and useful for preserves | Purplish black fruit with a chokecherry-like flavour |
| Growing site | Tolerates sandy soil, drought and salt spray | Full sun, with some drought tolerance |
| Growth habit | Dense shrub that can spread through suckers | Low, broad shrub that can spread through suckers |
| Cold hardiness zone | 3/4 | 3 |
| Mature size | 3 to 7 ft tall | 4 to 6 ft tall and wide |
A closer look
Beach Plum
Beach plum has tart fruit used for jam, jelly and wine. Our plants come from cuttings of six seedling parents. Two genetically different plants are a better plan for cross pollination than two copies of the same parent.
Western Sandcherry
Western sandcherry ripens in August here. Its grey green leaves turn mahogany red in autumn. The species is part of the breeding background of many cherry plums, which combine its shrubby form with plum ancestry.