ToadHill
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I think it's a dogwood, a picture close up of the bark would help.
Identify this shrub/tree?
- Thread starter sunspot
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Jinman & Stu, It's interesting that there are different varieties of plum "in the wild" or different names for the same. As Podunk said these have thorns but the they are not thorns like the Osage orange/hedge apple (which have true, big thorns). The thorns on our local variety of wild plum are a result of small limbs dieing and drying up leaving a short pointy "thorn". Since the wood is so hard those little limbs do a real good job of pokin' ya.
Paul, There are a bunch of native dogwoods, of all sizes, on our property also. I quit counting them at 40. Their blooms are quite a bit different than the plum bloom. I guess the main difference would be the size as the dogwood's flower is about 3 or 4 times larger.
Paul, There are a bunch of native dogwoods, of all sizes, on our property also. I quit counting them at 40. Their blooms are quite a bit different than the plum bloom. I guess the main difference would be the size as the dogwood's flower is about 3 or 4 times larger.
PSDStu
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Podunkadunk
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Guys, my dad was up from NW FL this weekend, he too said it was a wild plum tree. And yes, I stand corrected...if the tree gets enough sunlight, it will give off some kind of fruit, but it's so scraggly, I don't think it's edible. Most of the ones on my property don't get enough light to produce anything.
I've never smelled the bloom, but they are in full swing right now and before they wither, I'm going to give them a whiff and try to report back.
I also should have called the "thorns" - "spikes". I avoid those trees like the plague when I'm bushhogging. When dead limbs fall near the tree and you are bushhogging next to them, you can puncture a tire easily.
As for the tree's hardness, I'd guesstimate it's harder than oak, but can't find anything to corroborate my guesstimate. I know they'll work the dickens out of a smaller, non-industrial chainsaw from a box-store!
Good job fellas.
Podunk
Found some notes online at : http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/doc/cs_pram.doc
Description
General: Rose Family (Rosaceae). Wild plum (Prunus americana) is a shrub or small tree 3-8 m (3-24 ft) tall, and are usually forming thickets. The small branches are sometimes spiny. The leaves are alternate, egg-shaped to oval, 6-10 cm (2-4 in) long. The upper leaf surface is shiny green and the lower surface is slightly hairy; leaf margins are sharply toothed. The white roseaceous flowers are in-groups of 2-5 at the ends of branchlets. Flowers usually appear before the leaves in April and May. There are five separate, oval petals 8-12 mm (5/16-1/2 in) long. The reddish-purple plums are fleshy, oval, 2.0-2.7 cm (0.75-1.25 in) long; each fruit contains one seed. Wild plum flowers are insect pollinated.
Distribution
For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site. The range is from Massachusetts west to Manitoba and Montana, south to Utah, Colorado, and Oklahoma, east to Florida, and north to New York (Stephens 1975).
Wild plums can be planted from seed and they are relatively easy to transplant. Plant in well drained soil; wild plum tolerates shade. Flowering occurs in April and May and fruit ripens from August to September. The plant has fruit every year. "Wow, I blew that one!!!!!"
I've never smelled the bloom, but they are in full swing right now and before they wither, I'm going to give them a whiff and try to report back.
I also should have called the "thorns" - "spikes". I avoid those trees like the plague when I'm bushhogging. When dead limbs fall near the tree and you are bushhogging next to them, you can puncture a tire easily.
As for the tree's hardness, I'd guesstimate it's harder than oak, but can't find anything to corroborate my guesstimate. I know they'll work the dickens out of a smaller, non-industrial chainsaw from a box-store!
Good job fellas.
Podunk
Found some notes online at : http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/doc/cs_pram.doc
Description
General: Rose Family (Rosaceae). Wild plum (Prunus americana) is a shrub or small tree 3-8 m (3-24 ft) tall, and are usually forming thickets. The small branches are sometimes spiny. The leaves are alternate, egg-shaped to oval, 6-10 cm (2-4 in) long. The upper leaf surface is shiny green and the lower surface is slightly hairy; leaf margins are sharply toothed. The white roseaceous flowers are in-groups of 2-5 at the ends of branchlets. Flowers usually appear before the leaves in April and May. There are five separate, oval petals 8-12 mm (5/16-1/2 in) long. The reddish-purple plums are fleshy, oval, 2.0-2.7 cm (0.75-1.25 in) long; each fruit contains one seed. Wild plum flowers are insect pollinated.
Distribution
For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site. The range is from Massachusetts west to Manitoba and Montana, south to Utah, Colorado, and Oklahoma, east to Florida, and north to New York (Stephens 1975).
Wild plums can be planted from seed and they are relatively easy to transplant. Plant in well drained soil; wild plum tolerates shade. Flowering occurs in April and May and fruit ripens from August to September. The plant has fruit every year. "Wow, I blew that one!!!!!"
