BUCKHORN CLIFFSA preparedness field manual

Garden and Livestock · Guide

American Wild Plum Tree (Colorado Wild Plums)

How to identify the American wild plum in Colorado by habitat, leaf, flower and fruit, and why not to eat the pits.

Quick facts

  • HeightTypically no taller than about 20ft
  • HabitatPlains to canyons and slope bottoms, forms large thickets
  • Leaf
    • 1 to 5 inches long
    • smooth
    • sharply pointed tip
  • Flower
    • White
    • fragrant
    • about 1 inch across
    • blooms in spring
  • FruitRed, yellow, orange, or purple; sour skin, sweet flesh when ripe
  • Toxic parts
    • Pits
    • leaves
    • stems

Live in Colorado and come across what looks like a plum? Not sure if you should eat plums off of a Wild Plum Tree? The Colorado wild plum (also known correctly by the name: American wild plum) is edible and here's everything you need to know about it.

American Wild Plum Tree

This is picture taken down by my creek at Buckhorn Cliffs in northern Colorado on August 22nd. Just look at how big that plum thicket is!

Habitat of the Colorado Wild Plum Tree

If you're exploring in Colorado you may come across these wild plums anywhere from the plains to canyons and slope bottoms. The wild plum tree is typically no taller than about 20ft. They also have a tendency to form large thickets (like you see above).

While I call it a Colorado Wild Plum, it's actually known more broadly as the American Wild Plum and it can be found all over. Here is how to identify if you've found an edible wild plum tree or thicket.

Leaf of the American Wild Plum

The leaf of a wild plum tree typically reaches from 1 to 5 inches long, it's pretty much hairless which means it's basically smooth. The plum leaf is sharply pointed at the tip. The broadest section of leaf is found at or above middle.

Leaves on Wild Plum Tree

Are wild plums part of the Rose family?

Fun fact: not only are plums part of the rose family, so are: apples, peaches, apricots, and cherries. The rose family includes trees, herbs, and shrubs. Most species are deciduous, but some are evergreen. The rose family includes 4,828 known species!

Do wild plum trees flower?

Wild plum trees do flower, with clusters of white, fragrant blossoms about 1 inch across. These trees typically bloom right when leaves are appearing in the spring.

What does a wild plum taste like?

The fruit on a wild Colorado Plum tree will typically be red, yellow, orange, or purple and the skin has a dry or sour flavor when you pop one in your mouth. However, when ripe, the flesh is sweet.

Don't Eat the Pits in the Plums

The pits, leaves, and stems of the wild plum contain cyanogenic glycosides, compounds that release hydrogen cyanide when they are chewed or crushed. The flesh and skin of the fruit are safe. Cyanide, as you probably know is a poison that could kill you. If you accidentally swallow some of the plum pits, don't worry as you're not likely to die.

But if you were to take those pits and ground them up, you can create a lethal compound if enough is ingested.

Questions this answers

Tap a question for the short answer.

Can I eat wild plums in colorado?

Yes, the Colorado wild plum, properly called the American wild plum, is edible. Eat only the flesh and skin of the fruit. The pits, leaves, and stems contain cyanogenic glycosides, compounds that release hydrogen cyanide when chewed or crushed.

How do I identify an american wild plum tree?

Look for a tree no taller than about 20ft that tends to form large thickets. The leaves are smooth, 1 to 5 inches long, sharply pointed, and broadest at or above the middle. Clusters of white, fragrant blossoms about 1 inch across open in spring, and the fruit ripens red, yellow, orange or purple.

What does a wild plum taste like?

The skin has a dry or sour flavor when you first pop one in your mouth, but the flesh is sweet once the fruit is ripe. The plums are typically red, yellow, orange or purple.

Are wild plum pits poisonous?

Yes, the pits contain cyanogenic glycosides, compounds that release hydrogen cyanide when chewed or crushed, as do the leaves and stems. The fruit's flesh and skin are safe. Accidentally swallowing a few pits is not likely to kill you, but pits ground up and eaten in enough quantity can be lethal.

Where do wild plums grow in colorado?

Wild plums turn up anywhere from the plains to canyons and slope bottoms, often in large thickets. My own thicket grows down by the creek at Buckhorn Cliffs in northern Colorado. The species ranges well beyond the state as the American wild plum.

Keep going

Read nextColorado High-Elevation Vegetable GardeningHow to plan a vegetable garden for Colorado's short, high-altitude season: zones, weather, crop choices, site and soil prep, beds and frost dates.Garden and Livestock · Guide

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Garden and Livestock · GuideLast reviewed 2022-08-24

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