Canada Wild Plum Seeds (Prunus nigra) - 8 Seeds

Canada Wild Plum is a hardy native tree from the prairies and parklands of Manitoba, and it's relatively rare. The fruit is red and yellow and ripens here in late august usually after American wild plum has dropped, typically 1" - 1.25" with an oblong shape, the plums are sweet with a tart skin. The trees have a heavy set of white flowers in the spring and are widely considered the best pollinator for other hybrid plum trees, and they're valuable for wildlife. They can be used for rootstocks and will usually grow with more of a single trunk tree form, they don't sucker as much as American wild plum.

These seeds were collected from an old orchard rows, grown under open pollination with just the other wild plums in the row. They were probably planted for rootstocks 30-40 years ago. The trees show the broad, rounded leaves and scalloped (crenate-serrate) margins typical of Prunus nigra, the fruit is very typical yellow/red color and form, larger and later ripening than American wild plum. Open pollinated seed means there is natural variation and there could be some percentage of hybridization, but given the isolated location, seedlings should be true to type.

Seed Source: Manitoba
Cold hardiness: Zone 2–3
Height: 3–5 m (small tree / large shrub)
Uses: fresh eating, preserves, rootstock, shelterbelts, wildlife plantings
Pollination: requires cross-pollination with another plum for best fruit set
Stratification Required: Warm stratify 1-2 months followed by 3-4 months of cold stratification