Synonyms:

• (=) Prunus americana var. lanata Sudw.
• (=) Prunus americana var. mollis (Torr.) Torr. & A. Gray

Common names:

• black plum  (Source: Mansf Ency) - English
• Canada plum  (Source: F NAmer) - English
• prunier noir  (Source: F NAmer) - French (Canada)
• Bitterkirsche  (Source: Zander ed17) - German
• Kanada-Pflaume  (Source: Mansf Ency) - German
• kanadaplommon  (Source: Kulturvaxtdatabas) - Swedish

Economic Importance:

• Environmental: ornamental (fide Dict Gard)
• Human food: fruit (fide L Edible Pl)
• Gene sources: cold tolerance for plum (fide Weinberger 1975)
• Gene sources: graft stock relative for plum (based on hybrids with Prunus spinosa fide Acta Hort 290:262. 1991)
• Gene sources: secondary genetic relative of Japanese plum (based on assumptions of potential hybridization with Prunus salicina fide Amer J Bot 34:334. 1947)
• Gene sources: secondary genetic relative of myrobalan plum (based on affinities to Prunus cerasifera fide J Integr Pl Biol 55:1073, 1074. 2013)
• Gene sources: tertiary genetic relative of apricot (based on affinities to Prunus armeniaca fide J Integr Pl Biol 55:1073, 1074. 2013)
• Gene sources: tertiary genetic relative of peach (fide Temp Fruit Cr Breed 267. 2008)
• Gene sources: tertiary genetic relative of plum (based on affinities to hexaploid Prunus domestica fide J Integr Pl Biol 55:1073, 1074. 2013)

Distributional Range:

Native

Northern America

• EASTERN CANADA: Canada [New Brunswick (s.), Ontario (s.), Quebec (s.)]
• WESTERN CANADA: Canada [Manitoba (s.e.)]
• NORTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Connecticut, Indiana (n.), Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio (n.), Rhode Island, Vermont]
• NORTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin]


Cultivated (also cult.)

References:

1. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource on www.skud.info). 2012 (Kulturvaxtdatabas)
2. Erhardt, W. et al. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 17. Auflage. 2002 (Zander ed17)
3. Hancock, J. F. et al. 2008. Chapter 9. Peaches (Temp Fruit Cr Breed) 265-298.
4. Hanelt, P., ed. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6. 2001 (Mansf Ency) 1:515.
5. Huxley, A., ed. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening. 1992 (Dict Gard)
6. Jones, G. N. & G. D. Fuller Vascular plants of Illinois. 1955 (F IllJones)
7. Kunkel, G. Plants for human consumption. 1984 (L Edible Pl)
8. Ramming, D. W. & V. Cociu 1991. Plums (Prunus) Acta Hort. 290:235-290.
9. Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae) (F NAmer) 9: in press.
10. Scoggan, H. J. The flora of Canada, 4 vol. 1978-1979 (F Canada)
11. Shi, S. et al. 2013. Phylogeny and classification of Prunus sensu lato (Rosaceae) J. Integr. Pl. Biol. 55:1069-1079.
12. Weinberger, J. H. 1975. Plums (Adv Fruit Breed) 337.

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN-Taxonomy).
National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: http://germoplasma.iniaf.gob.bo/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=30053. Accessed 7 junio 2026.