Hortulan plum
Prunus hortulana
Last reviewed: October 2026
Hortulan plum (Prunus hortulana) is a perennial tree native to AR, IA, IL, IN and 10 more states. It blooms in April and May. The flowers draw bees.
Hortulan plum is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-08-15). 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 pet-safe native alternative for your yard.
Native swaps for a yard with pets
Hortulan 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
180"–300" H × 180"–240" W
Bloom
Apr, May
Native to
AR, IA, IL, IN and 10 more states
Pollinators
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 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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Browse plants for this ecoregion
Small, thicket-forming tree with thorny branches, clusters of white flowers in spring, and edible red to yellow plums in late summer. Found along woodland edges and fencerows.
Growing Hortulan plum
Grow Hortulan plum in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 180 to 300 inches tall and spread 180 to 240 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Host plant for eastern tiger swallowtail, coral hairstreak.
Larval host plant for eastern tiger swallowtail and coral hairstreak butterflies; flowers attract bees and fruit feeds birds and mammals.
Common questions
- How much sun does Hortulan plum need?
- Hortulan plum grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Hortulan plum bloom?
- Hortulan plum blooms in April and May.
- Where is Hortulan plum native?
- Hortulan plum (Prunus hortulana) is native to AR, IA, IL, IN and 10 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- Is Hortulan plum toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Hortulan 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 Hortulan plum toxic to cats?
- Yes. Hortulan 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 butterflies or moths does Hortulan plum host?
- Hortulan plum is a larval host plant for eastern tiger swallowtail and coral hairstreak.
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 Hortulan plum and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.