Beach Plum
Prunus maritima
Beach plum is the salt- and sand-tolerant shrub of Atlantic dunes, blanketed in white bloom then heavy with purple plums famous for jam. Among the toughest natives for seaside gardens.
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Type
- shrub
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 12–12 ft
- Spacing
- 4–8 ft apart
- Light
- sun
- Soil moisture
- dry
- Soil pH
- acidic, neutral, alkaline
- Bloom
- April, May, June
- Bloom colors
- white
- Wildlife value
- pollinators, songbirds, butterflies, larval host
- Caterpillar hosts
- ~456 butterfly & moth species
- Landscape uses
- specimen, hedge or screen, foundation
- Native states
- CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA
Related native plants
More Prunus species
- Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
- Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
- Carolina Laurelcherry (Prunus caroliniana)
- Hollyleaf Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia)
- American Plum (Prunus americana)
- Mexican Plum (Prunus mexicana)