Flatwoods plum is a small native deciduous tree or shrub in the rose family. They have short thickened trunks and dense flat-topped crowns and can easily form thickets if not maintained. They are found naturally in upland, xeric, sandy and rocky woodlands. This plant has moderate drought tolerance. This plant can live up to 40 years. If planted in sandy soils, this plant needs more water and shade than usual. More information on Prunus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Horizontal
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Flower color
Cream/Tan; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Umbel
Flower detail
Rounded umbles white to cream late-blooming flowers. Flowers bloom March-April.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
< 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Fruits are available August-September and are black in color.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern U.S.A., NC
Wildlife value
This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north. Native bees are attracted to the flowers.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds; Specialized Bees