Creek Plum
Prunus rivularis
Last reviewed: October 2026
Creek Plum is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 and your veterinarian's emergency line.
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a native alternative that is not on the ASPCA toxic plant list.
Native swaps for a yard with pets
Creek Plum is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. These natives fill a similar role in a planting and are not on the ASPCA toxic plant list for dogs or cats. Each plant's page carries its dated record.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
36"–96" H × 48"–60" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May
Native to
AL, AR, CA, CO and 16 more states
Pollinators
butterflies, bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 460 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaPicture natives in your own yard
Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Creek Plum.
Browse plants for this ecoregion
Creek Plum is a native Texas shrub that produces fragrant white flowers in spring followed by small red to purple plums in summer. This deciduous shrub forms colonies through root suckers and provides excellent wildlife habitat while offering seasonal interest with spring blooms and fall color.
In an HOA neighborhood
Creek Plum takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Height exceeds typical HOA-friendly range
Wildlife value
The spring flowers attract bees and butterflies, while the summer fruits feed birds and small mammals. This plant serves as a host for several native butterfly species.
Common questions
- How much sun does Creek Plum need?
- Creek Plum grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Creek Plum bloom?
- Creek Plum blooms in March, April, and May.
- Where is Creek Plum native?
- Creek Plum (Prunus rivularis) is native to AL, AR, CA, CO and 16 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- Is Creek Plum toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Creek Plum is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Creek Plum toxic to cats?
- Yes. Creek Plum is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- What pollinators does Creek Plum attract?
- Creek Plum draws butterflies and bees.
- Is Creek Plum HOA-friendly?
- Creek Plum takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants like Creek Plum and shows natives not flagged toxic to pets for your ecoregion instead.