Photo courtesy of Prides Corner Farms
Prunus maritima
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Beach plum grows in pure sand on an exposed dune, which is about as hard a site as a fruiting shrub can be asked to take. Prunus maritima is a native shrub reaching 6 to 7 feet tall and wide in full sun to part sun, hardy from Zone 3 through Zone 8.
Clouds of white flowers cover the branches in spring before the leaves expand, followed by purple plums about an inch across in late summer. The fruit is tart eaten fresh and excellent cooked into jam and jelly, which is what it has been used for on the New England coast for generations.
Beach plum feeds coral hairstreak, tiger swallowtail, and spring azure caterpillars, and songbirds take the fruit.
High salt tolerance is what sets it apart. It handles salt spray, sandy soil, wind, and drought once established, and it wants sharp drainage rather than rich ground. Fruit set improves with a second plant nearby. It suckers into a thicket, which suits a bank or a hedgerow. Deer leave it alone.
Height 6'- 7' Spread 6'- 7'
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8
Lowest Temperatures -40°F to -30°F
Full sun to part sun- at least 4 hours direct sun per day
Coral Hairstreak, Tiger Swallowtail, Spring Azure
CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA
