When does American plum bloom?

American plum flowers in April and May, with clusters of white blossoms opening on bare branches before the leaves fully emerge.

What pollinates American plum flowers?

Bees and beetles are the main visitors to American plum blossoms, drawn to the abundant early season flowers.

How much sun does American plum need?

American plum grows best in full sun but can tolerate some partial shade, especially at woodland margins.

Does American plum need a lot of water?

American plum does well with moderate moisture and also tolerates drier conditions once it is established.

What kind of tree is American plum?

American plum is a small, often thicket forming deciduous tree valued for its early spring flowers and later summer fruit.

Is Goose Plum toxic to dogs?

Yes. Goose 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 Goose Plum toxic to cats?

Yes. Goose 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.

Is Goose Plum toxic to livestock?

Goose Plum is listed as toxic to grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats (slight severity) by the USDA PLANTS Database. This is separate from pet (dog and cat) toxicity.

Is Goose Plum HOA-friendly?

Goose Plum takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Goose Plum

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Prunus americana

Last reviewed: August 2026

American plum is a small deciduous tree that produces clusters of white flowers in April and May before leafing out, favoring full sun along woodland edges and old fields.

Goose Plum (Prunus americana) — Photo: Sarah Johnson (iNaturalist) / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Goose 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) 426-4435and your veterinarian's emergency line.

Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.

Goose Plum is listed as toxic to grazing livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats) at a slight level by the USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab). This is a livestock indicator and is separate from pet toxicity.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

240"–480" H × 180"–360" W

Bloom

Apr, May

Native to

AL, AR, CO, CT and 39 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

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Goose plum is a native tree that produces clusters of white flowers in spring before the leaves emerge, followed by small red or yellow plums in summer. It naturally forms thickets through root suckers and can grow quite large, reaching 20-40 feet tall and wide at maturity.

Growing Goose Plum

Grow Goose Plum in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 240 to 480 inches tall and spread 180 to 360 inches wide. Expect high maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Goose Plum takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Forms thickets through aggressive suckering
Can appear unkempt without regular maintenance
Fruit drop creates mess on walkways

Wildlife value

Host plant for tiger swallowtail, spring azure.

The spring flowers attract bees and beetles for pollination. The fruits provide food for birds and small mammals, while the dense branching structure offers nesting sites.

Common questions

When does American plum bloom?: American plum flowers in April and May, with clusters of white blossoms opening on bare branches before the leaves fully emerge.
What pollinates American plum flowers?: Bees and beetles are the main visitors to American plum blossoms, drawn to the abundant early season flowers.
How much sun does American plum need?: American plum grows best in full sun but can tolerate some partial shade, especially at woodland margins.
Does American plum need a lot of water?: American plum does well with moderate moisture and also tolerates drier conditions once it is established.
What kind of tree is American plum?: American plum is a small, often thicket forming deciduous tree valued for its early spring flowers and later summer fruit.
Is Goose Plum toxic to dogs?: Yes. Goose 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 Goose Plum toxic to cats?: Yes. Goose 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.
Is Goose Plum toxic to livestock?: Goose Plum is listed as toxic to grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats (slight severity) by the USDA PLANTS Database. This is separate from pet (dog and cat) toxicity.
Is Goose Plum HOA-friendly?: Goose Plum takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

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