Carried by 5 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Klamath plum, also called Oregon plum, or Sierra plum (Prunus subcordata) is a member of the genus Prunus (plum, cherry, and other stone fruit), native to the west coast of the United States in California and southern Oregon. It grows in forests, most often at low elevation near the coast, but it is also in the Sierra Nevada and Cascades; it grows at altitudes of 100-1,900 meter. It is an erect deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 8 meter in height. It sprouts from its roots and can form dense, spiny thickets. The bark is gray with horizontal brown lenticels, similar in appearance to that of the cherry tree. The leaves are 2.5-5 centimeter long with a 4-15 millimeter petiole, dark green, turning red before falling, and are faintly serrated. The flowers are pink or white, appearing in the spring in clusters of one to seven together. The fruit is a small plum-like drupe, variable in appearance, 15-25 millimeter in length, and may be red or yellow; they are mature in late summer. The plums are small and tart but edible.
Tree, Shrub
20 - 26 ft Tall
Upright
Moderate
Winter Deciduous
White, Pink, Red
Spring
Hedge
Partial Shade
Moderate
Moderate
Prefers sandy or loamy soils. Does not grow well in clay soils.
For propagating by seed: 3 mos. stratification.
1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7*, 8, 9, 14*, 15*, 16*, 18*, 19, 20, 21
Yellow Pine Forest
Butterflies and moths supported
2 confirmed and 159 likely
Western Tent Caterpillar
Malacosoma californica
October Thorn Moth
Tetracis jubararia
Climbing Cutworm
Abagrotis orbis