American Plum
Prunus americana
Found in upland forests, bottomland forests, fencerows, usually in moist situations. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Florida edition What its natural habitat tells you
100
Keystone
Native to Florida. How scores work Is it native here?
Profile 100%
- Height
- 15–25 feet
- Spread
- 15–25 feet
- Light
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil moisture
- Somewhat dry to moist
Space about 20 ft apart from its recorded spread. Enter your bed size for a count
Will it fit your yard?
At a glance
- Life cycle
- Woody perennial
- Leaves
- Deciduous
- Bloom
- Spring
- Fruiting season
- July to August
Recorded in 19 Florida counties.
Natural habitats
Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.
1 of 3
Floodplain and bottomland forests
Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.
Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground
Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.
Ecological relationships
Who uses this plant?
240CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including FL
Genus host records with ranges including FL · Prunus
- Automeris ioIo Moth
- Callosamia prometheaPromethea Moth
- Celastrina ladonSpring Azure
- Hemaris thysbeHummingbird Clearwing
- Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Moth
- Limenitis arthemisRed-spotted Purple
- Papilio glaucusEastern Tiger Swallowtail
- Abagrotis alternataGreater Red Dart, Mottled Grey Cutworm
- Acharia stimuleaSaddleback Caterpillar Moth
- Achatia distinctaDistinct Quaker
Show all 240
- Acoloithus rectariusUpright Acoloithus Moth
- Acrobasis indigenellaLeaf Crumpler
- Acrobasis vacciniiCranberry Fruitworm
- Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
- Acronicta clarescensClear Dagger
- Acronicta funeralisFunerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
- Acronicta hastaSpeared Dagger, Cherry Dagger, Dart Dagger
- Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger
- Acronicta lanceolariaNarrow-Winged Dagger, Lanceolate Dagger
- Acronicta longaLong-Winged Dagger, Darkish Dagger
- Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
- Actias lunaLuna Moth
- Adoneta spinuloidesPurple-Crested Slug
- Aethalura intertextaFour-Barred Gray
- Agnippe prunifoliellaSkunk Twirler
- Agrotis ipsilonIpsilon Dart, Black Cutworm, Greasy Cutworm
- Alsophila pometariaFall Cankerworm Moth
- Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
- Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
- Amyelois transitellaNavel Orangeworm
- Anatrachyntis badiaFlorida Pink Scavanger Caterpillar
- Anatrachyntis rileyiPink Scavanger Caterpillar
- Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
- Anisota stigmaSpiny Oakworm Moth, Stigma Moth
- Antaeotricha leucillanaWell-Marked Leaf Tier, Pale Gray Bird-Dropping Moth
- Antepione thisoariaVariable Antepione
- Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
- Apantesis naisNais Tiger Moth
- Apatelodes torrefactaSpotted Apatelodes
- Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
- Archips purpuranaOmnivorous Leafroller Moth
- Archips rileyanaSouthern Ugly-Nest Caterpillar Moth
- Argyresthia oreasellaCherry Shoot Borer
- Argyrostrotis anilisShort-Lined Chocolate
- Argyrotaenia juglandanaHickory Leafroller
- Argyrotaenia marianaGray-Banded Leafroller Moth
- Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
- Artace cribrariusDot-Lined White Moth
- Balsa malanaMany-Dotted Balsa, Many-Dotted Appleworm
- Bleptina caradrinalisBent-Winged Owlet, Variable Snout
- Cabera variolariaPink-Striped Willow Spanworm Moth, Vestal Moth, The Vestal
- Callophrys henriciHenry's Elfin
- Callosamia anguliferaTulip-Tree Silkmoth
- Catocala clintoniiClinton's Underwing
- Catocala crataegiHawthorne Underwing, Thorn Underwing
- Catocala gryneaWoody Underwing
- Catocala miraWonderful Underwing
- Catocala pretiosaPrecious Underwing, Texarkana Underwing
- Catocala ultroniaUltronia Underwing
- Cecrita biundataWavy-Lined Heterocampa
- Cecrita guttivittaMaple Prominent, Saddled Prominent
- Celastrina neglectaSummer Azure
- Cenopis diluticostanaSpring Dead-Leaf Roller Moth, Oak Cenopis
- Cenopis directanaChokecherry Leafroller Moth
- Cenopis pettitanaMaple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
- Cenopis reticulatanaReticulated Fruitworm Moth
- Cepphis decolorariaDark Scallop Moth
- Cerastis tenebriferaReddish Speckled Dart
- Ceratomia amyntorElm Sphinx
- Cerma cerinthaTufted Bird-Dropping Moth, Cherry Agate
- Cerma coraThe Agate
- Chaetaglaea sericeaSilky Sallow
- Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaBlackberry Looper Moth
- Choristoneura conflictanaLarge Aspen Tortrix
- Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
- Citheronia regalisRoyal Walnut Moth, Hickory Horned Devil
- Cleora projectaProjecta Gray
- Cleora sublunariaDouble-Lined Gray
- Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
- Coleophora laticornellaPecan Cigar Casebearer
- Cydia latiferreanaFilbertworm
- Dasychira meridionalisSouthern Tussock Moth
- Dasychira tephraTephra Tussock Moth
- Datana ministraYellow-Necked Caterpillar Moth
- Dichomeris ligulellaPalmerworm
- Dyspteris abortivariaThe Bad-Wing, Badwing
- Eacles imperialisImperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
- Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
- Egira alternansAlternate Woodling
- Elasmopalpus lignosellaLesser Cornstalk Borer
- Ennomos magnariaMaple Spanworm Moth, Notchwing Geometer
- Ephestiodes infimellaReddish Ephestiodes
- Episimus tyriusMaple Tip Borer
- Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
- Estigmene acreaSalt Marsh Moth, Acrea Moth
- Euchlaena amoenariaDeep Yellow Euchlaena
- Euchlaena deductariaForked Euchlaena
- Euchlaena muzariaMuzaria Euchlaena
- Euchlaena obtusariaObtuse Euchlaena
- Eucirroedia pampinaScalloped Sallow
- Euclea delphiniiSpiny Oak-Slug Moth
- Eulithis diversilineataLesser Grapevine Looper Moth
- Eumacaria madopataBrown-Bordered Geometer
- Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
- Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
- Euxoa auxiliarisArmy Cut-Worm, Army Cutworm
- Euzophera semifuneralisAmerican Plum Borer
- Feltia subterraneaSubterranean Dart, Granulate Cutworm
- Furcula borealisWhite Furcula
- Glena cognatariaBlueberry Gray
- Glena cribratariaDotted Gray
- Grapholita packardiCherry Fruit Worm
- Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
- Haploa clymeneClymene Moth
- Haploa colonaColona Moth
- Haploa leconteiLeconte's Haploa
- Harrisimemna trisignataHarris's Three-Spot
- Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
- Herpetogramma thestealisZigzag Herpetogramma, Subtle-Feathered Grass Moth
- Hyles lineataWhite-Lined Sphinx
- Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
- Hypena scabraGreen Cloverworm Bomolocha, Black Snout
- Hypercompe scriboniaGiant Leopard Moth, Great Leopard Moth
- Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
- Idia aemulaCommon Idia
- Iridopsis defectariaBrown-Shaded Gray, Willow Looper
- Iridopsis ephyrariaPale-Winged Gray
- Iridopsis humariaSmall Purplish Gray
- Isa textulaCrowned Slug
- Kocakina fidelisIntractable Quaker, Green Fruitworm, Fourlined Green Fruitworm
- Lambdina fervidariaCurve-Lined Looper Moth
- Limenitis archippusViceroy
- Lithacodes fasciolaYellow-Shouldered Slug
- Lithophane antennataAshen Pinion
- Lithophane bethuneiBethune's Pinion
- Lithophane patefactaDiomorphic Pinion, Branded Pinion
- Lithophane viridipallensPale Green Pinion
- Lochmaeus manteoVariable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth
- Lomographa glomerariaGray Spring Moth
- Lomographa vestaliataWhite Spring Moth
- Lycia ypsilonWoolly Gray
- Macaria coortariaFour-Spotted Angle, Four-Spotted Granite
- Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
- Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
- Megalopyge crispataBlack-Waved Flannel Moth, Crinkled Flannel Moth
- Megalopyge opercularisSouthern Flannel Moth, Puss Caterpillar
- Megalopyge pyxidiferaYellow Flannel Moth
- Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
- Metarranthis duariaRuddy Metarranthis
- Metarranthis obfirmariaYellow-Washed Metarranthis
- Metaxaglaea australisSouthern Sallow
- Metaxaglaea viaticaRoadside Sallow
- Monoleuca semifasciaPin-Striped Vermilion Slug
- Moodna ostrinellaDarker Moodna
- Morrisonia confusaConfused Woodgrain
- Nadata gibbosaWhite-Dotted Prominent
- Natada nasoniNason's Slug Moth
- Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
- Nemoria bistriariaTwo-Striped Emerald, Red-Fringed Emerald
- Nemoria mimosariaWhite-Fringed Emerald
- Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
- Oedemasia leptinoidesBlack-Blotched Schizura
- Oedemasia semirufescensRed-Washed Prominent
- Oiketicus abbotiiAbbot's Bagworm Moth
- Orgyia definitaDefinite Tussock Moth
- Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
- Orthodes cynicaCynical Quaker, Cynical Groundcat
- Orthosia alurinaGray Quaker
- Orthotaenia undulanaDusky Leafroller
- Palthis angulalisDark-Spotted Palthis
- Pandemis limitataThree-Lined Leafroller Moth
- Panopoda rufimargoRed-Lined Panopoda
- Paonias astylusHuckleberry Sphinx
- Paonias excaecataBlinded Sphinx, Blind Eyed Sphinx
- Paonias myopsSmall-Eyed Sphinx
- Papilio troilusSpicebush Swallowtail
- Parasa chlorisSmaller Parasa, Green Slug Moth
- Parasa indeterminaStinging Rose Caterpillar Moth, Rose Slug Caterpillar
- Parornix geminatellaUnspotted Leaf Miner, Unspotted Tentiform Leafminer
- Pero ancetariaHubner's Pero
- Pero honestariaHonest Pero
- Phaeoura quernariaOak Beauty Moth
- Phigalia strigatariaSmall Phigalia, Small Oak Looper
- Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
- Phlogophora periculosaBrown Angle Shades
- Phobetron pitheciumHag Moth, Monkey Slug
- Phyllodesma americanaLappet Moth, American Lappet Moth, Southern Lappet Moth
- Plagodis fervidariaFervid Plagodis
- Platynota flavedanaBlack-Shaded Platynota
- Platynota idaeusalisTufted Apple-Bud Moth
- Pococera aplastellaAspen Webworm Moth
- Prionapteryx nebuliferaClouded Veneer Moth
- Prionoxystus robiniaeCarpenterworm Moth, Black Locust Borer, Cottonwood Borer
- Probole alienariaDogwood Probole, Alien Probole
- Probole amicariaFriendly Probole
- Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
- Prolimacodes badiaSkiff Moth, Skiff Caterpillar
- Pyrrharctia isabellaIsabella Tiger Moth, Banded Woolybear
- Rheumaptera prunivorataFerguson's Scallop Shell, Cherry Scallop Shell
- Satyrium liparopsStriped Hairstreak
- Satyrium titusCoral Hairstreak
- Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
- Scolecocampa liburnaDead-Wood Borer
- Scopula inductataSoft-Lined Wave
- Scopula limboundataLarge Lace-Border
- Sericaglaea signataVariable Sallow
- Smerinthus jamaicensisTwin-Spotted Sphinx
- Sparganothis sulfureanaSparganothis Fruitworm Moth, Sulfur Leafroller, False Yellow-Head
- Sphinx kalmiaeFawn Sphinx, Laurel Sphinx
- Spilosoma dubiaDubious Tiger Moth
- Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
- Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
- Spodoptera ornithogalliYellow-Striped Armyworm Moth, Cotton Cutworm
- Sunira bicoloragoBicolored Sallow
- Synanthedon exitiosaPeachtree Borer Moth, Western Peachtree Borer
- Synanthedon pictipesLesser Peachtree Borer Moth
- Synanthedon scitulaDogwood Borer, Pecan Borer
- Tetracis cachexiataWhite Slant-Line
- Tetracis crocallataYellow Slant-Line
- Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
- Tolype velledaLarge Tolype, Large Lappet Moth, Vellada Lappet Moth
- Tortricidia pallidaRed-Cross Button Slug
- Tricholita signataSignate Quaker, Signate Groundcat
- Trichordestra legitimaStriped Garden Caterpillar Moth
- Utetheisa ornatrixOrnate Moth, Pink Underwing, Rattlebox Moth, Bella Moth
- Vanessa carduiPainted Lady, Cosmopolite
- Xanthotype sospetaCrocus Geometer
- Xylesthia pruniramiellaClemens' Bark Moth, Speckled Xylesthia
- Xystopeplus rufagoRed-Winged Sallow
- Zale calycanthataDouble-Banded Zale
- Zale intentaBold-Based Zale[two share this common name], Intent Zale
- Zale lunataLunate Zale
- Zanclognatha marthaPine Barrens Zanclognatha, Pine Barrens Fan-Foot
- Acleris placidana
- Astala confederata
- Neoprocris floridana
- Pero nerisaria
- Rheumaptera affirmata
- Stigmella slingerlandella
- Xenotemna pallorana
134BeesSoutheastern regional records
Southeastern regional records · Prunus
Individual names are not available yet.
Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
1Specialist beesPollen specialists
36BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Prunus
- Bombycilla cedrorumCedar Waxwing
- Turdus migratoriusAmerican Robin
- Aphelocoma californicaCalifornia Scrub-Jay
- Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
- Callipepla californicaCalifornia Quail
- Cardinalis cardinalisNorthern Cardinal
- Catharus fuscescensVeery
- Catharus guttatusHermit Thrush
- Catharus minimus/bicknelliGray-cheeked/Bicknell's Thrush
- Catharus ustulatusSwainson's Thrush
Show all 36
- Coccothraustes vespertinusEvening Grosbeak
- Colinus virginianusNorthern Bobwhite
- Columba liviaRock Pigeon
- Corvus brachyrhynchosAmerican Crow
- Cyanocitta stelleriSteller's Jay
- Euphagus cyanocephalusBrewer's Blackbird
- Hylocichla mustelinaWood Thrush
- Icterus bullockiiBullock's Oriole
- Melanerpes erythrocephalusRed-headed Woodpecker
- Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
- Melospiza melodiaSong Sparrow
- Melozone crissalisCalifornia Towhee
- Myadestes townsendiTownsend's Solitaire
- Patagioenas fasciataBand-tailed Pigeon
- Pheucticus melanocephalusBlack-headed Grosbeak
- Pinicola enucleatorPine Grosbeak
- Pipilo maculatusSpotted Towhee
- Sialia mexicanaWestern Bluebird
- Sialia sialisEastern Bluebird
- Sphyrapicus variusYellow-bellied Sapsucker
- Sturnus vulgarisEuropean Starling
- Tympanuchus phasianellusSharp-tailed Grouse
- Tyrannus tyrannusEastern Kingbird
- Vireo gilvusWarbling Vireo
- Vireo olivaceusRed-eyed Vireo
- Zonotrichia leucophrysWhite-crowned Sparrow
Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening
Beetles 2
- Molorchus bimaculatus
- Valgus canaliculatus
Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA
Flies 8
- Brachypalpus frontosus
- Empis otiosa
- Orthoneura nitida
- Phormia regina
- Rhamphomyia priapulus
- Sphaerophoria cylindrica
- Syrphus americanus
- Syrphus torvus
Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA
Adult butterflies / moths 6
- Anosia plexippus
- Plusia simplex
- Pontia protodice
- Thanaos juvenalis
- Vanessa atalanta
- Vanessa huntera
Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA
Other wasps 2
- Polistes pallipes
- Polistes variatus
Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA
No records yet · Ants · Other insects
Growing and identification
Plant details
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Hardiness
- Zones 3a–9b
- Soil pH
- Acidic to neutral
- Flower color
- White
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Growth habit
- Single stem
- Foliage color
- Green
- Fruit begins
- July
- Fruit ends
- August
Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.
Growing sources and scope
- Bloom · “Spring” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition, USDA PLANTS, Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide differ)
- Flower color · “White” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Fruit begins · “July” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; NC Extension Plant Toolbox, USDA PLANTS differ) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Fruit ends · “August” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; NC Extension Plant Toolbox, USDA PLANTS differ) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Growth habit · “Single stem” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Growth rate · “Moderate” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Hardiness · “Zones 3a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder differs)
- Height · “15–25 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide differ)
- Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs)
- Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards, Virginia DCR Piedmont, Virginia DCR Coastal Plain, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide differ)
- primary_flower_color · “white” · USDA PLANTS
- Soil · “Good drainage; Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards, Virginia DCR Piedmont, Virginia DCR Coastal Plain, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide differ)
- Soil pH · “Acidic to neutral” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs)
- Spread · “15–25 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Also known as
Wild Plum
Conservation status
| Florida rank | SNR |
|---|---|
| Global rank | G5 |
| FL status | Not verified |
| Federal status | Not verified |
In your garden
Will it fit your yard?
Check this plant against your county, sun and soil moisture. Conditions are checked in your browser.
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Sources
- Atlas of Florida Plants
- USDA PLANTS
- Vascular Plants of North Carolina (NC Natural Heritage Program)
- Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Florida edition
- Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
- Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)
- Narango, Tallamy & Shropshire 2020, Few keystone plant genera support the majority of Lepidoptera species, Nature Communications