# Plum (*Prunus domestica*)

Plums are juicy fruits with smooth skin and a sweet taste. They come in different colors like red, purple, and yellow. Plums are great for eating fresh or making tasty jams and desserts.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Also known as:** Damson, Greengage

![Plum](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Plums_African_Rose_-_whole%252C_halved_and_slice.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plums_African_Rose_-_whole%252C_halved_and_slice.jpg)

## Appearance

The Plum is a deciduous tree known for its smooth-skinned, round or oval fruits that ripen to shades of purple, red, yellow, or green. Its delicate white or pink blossoms appear in early spring before the leaves, creating a beautiful display.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Rosales
- **Family:** Rosaceae
- **Genus:** Prunus

## Interesting facts

- A single plum tree once produced over 3,000 fruits in just one amazing year!
- Ancient Romans were cultivating plums for their delicious fruits over 2,000 years ago.
- Dried plums, called prunes, are famous for helping your tummy feel happy and healthy.
- Plums come in over 2,000 different varieties grown across the globe!

## Special abilities

- **Waxy Shield:** Plum fruits can have a protective waxy 'bloom' on their skin, which helps prevent moisture loss and shields them from some pests.
- **Sweet & Sour Bait:** Plum fruits range from sweet to tart, attracting animals (and humans!) to eat them, which helps spread their seeds far and wide.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 300-1000 cm
- **Spread:** 300-800 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1.5-2.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits plum blossoms to collect nectar and pollen.
- **Eaten by:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — Cultivates and consumes plum fruits worldwide.
- **Eaten by:** [Codling moth](https://www.snappit.app/explore/codling-moth) (*Carpocapsa pomonella*) — Larvae bore into and feed on plum fruits.

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
- [Fruit Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-tree): A fruit tree is a perennial tree that produces fruit, which is edible to humans or animals.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Fruits](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fruits)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always wash plums before eating to remove any dirt or chemicals.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Plum?

Compare the fruit's shape, skin, how it attaches, the leaves and the plant's growth form. Ripeness and cultivated varieties can change both color and size. Fruit Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Plum?

300-1000 cm

### How wide does Plum spread?

300-800 cm

### How big are the flowers on Plum?

1.5-2.5 cm

### When does Plum bloom?

Spring

### Is Plum edible?

Yes

### Is Plum toxic?

None

### What is Plum's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Plum: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/plum)