Hortulan Plum

Description

Prunus hortulana, called the hortulan plum and wild goose plum, is a fruit shrub in the rose family found in the central United States in: Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia. Populations east of the Appalachians probably represent naturalizations. Prunus hortulana is a deciduous tree with a trunk diameter of up to 15 centimetres (5.9 in) and an overall height of 6 metres (20 ft) or more. Leaves are green and hairless on the top but hairy on the underside. White flowers in clusters of 2-4 appear in the Spring. Fruits are red or yellow drupes with white dots, reportedly sweet and pleasant-tasting. The species grows in upland forests and near streams.