Quick answer: Canada plum (Prunus nigra) is native to 3 states. What's commonly sold under this name is the true wild species. No live listing of the true species was found as of 16 Sep 2026.
Photo: Andrey Zharkikh from Salt Lake City, USA, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-2.0)
Where it's native
Listed in the directory as native to these states. Click a state for its full native-plant guide.
Growing conditions
From the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database.
| Sun | Part Shade, Shade |
|---|---|
| Water | Medium |
| Soil | Moist, rich, alkaline-tolerant |
| Bloom | Apr-Jun |
| Height | 20-30 ft |
| Wildlife value | Special value to native bees, fruit for birds/wildlife |
Children have died from eating too many plums without removing stones; all parts except skin/fruit flesh contain hydrocyanic acid
Buying it
No live listing of the true wild species was found as of 16 Sep 2026 — that means our last search didn't surface one, not that the plant is unavailable.
No live seed or plant listing found as of 16 Sep 2026. That means our last search didn't surface one — not that the plant is unavailable. Try a regional native-plant nursery.
Quick answers about Canada plum
Where is Canada plum native?
Canada plum (Prunus nigra) is native to Maine, New Hampshire and Ohio. Check your state's page in this directory for the full list of plants native where you live.
When does Canada plum bloom?
Canada plum blooms Apr-Jun. Exact timing shifts a few weeks with latitude and elevation.
What growing conditions does Canada plum need?
Light: Part Shade, Shade. Water: Medium. Soil: Moist, rich, alkaline-tolerant. Mature height: 20-30 ft.
Is Canada plum good for pollinators and wildlife?
Yes. Wildlife value: Special value to native bees, fruit for birds/wildlife.
Is Canada plum deer-resistant or drought-tolerant?
Canada plum is tolerates shade.
Is Canada plum toxic?
Children have died from eating too many plums without removing stones; all parts except skin/fruit flesh contain hydrocyanic acid.
Where can I buy Canada plum?
We haven't found an online listing of the true wild species as of 16 Sep 2026. A regional native-plant nursery or native seed company is your best source; ask for Prunus nigra by its scientific name.
Similar native plants
Native plants that share growing conditions or range with Canada plum.
- White spruce Picea glauca
- Purple clematis Clematis occidentalis var. occidentalis
- American mountain ash Sorbus americana
- Balsam fir Abies balsamea
- Great laurel Rhododendron maximum
- Sweet birch Betula lenta
Also listed under
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