Wild Plum — Limited & Working

Ripe plums fall easily to the ground or come off with a gentle tap. Place a sheet under the tree to collect them easily. Storage: They can be frozen, dried, or cooked immediately. 3. Culinary Uses & Processing

This guide covers the identification, foraging, and utilization of the ( Prunus americana ), a versatile native fruit often found in thickets across North America. 1. Identification Guide (Prunus americana) wild plum

Sunny, moist areas like forest edges, stream banks, and abandoned pastures. Ripe plums fall easily to the ground or

Can be confused with Canada plum or Beach plum, but P. americana has distinct, sharp-toothed leaves and very thorny twigs. 2. Foraging & Harvesting 2½–4 inches long

Showy, fragrant white flowers with five petals appear in early spring (April–May) before leaves arrive.

Dark brown to gray, becoming scaly with horizontal, raised, light-colored pores (lenticels) on younger branches.

Alternate, simple, ovate, 2½–4 inches long, with sharp, serrated (toothed) margins and a long, narrow tip.