Species Indian plum
black, velvety, small, round berries with orange-red, shiny petioles, and green, smooth leaves

Indian plum

Oemleria cerasiformis

Also Known As - Indian plum
Indian Plum (Oemleria cerasiformis) is a small deciduous tree native to the Pacific Northwest of the United States. It typically grows to 10-20 feet tall and has an irregularly shaped crown with multiple stems. Its branches spread horizontally, and its bark is a dark gray color. Its leaves are 2 - 4 inches in length, elliptic or narrowly obovate in shape, bright green above and pubescent below. In April and May, its blooms are fragrant white flowers. The edible fruit is a yellow drupe up to 1/2 inch in diameter, and is ready for harvest in the fall. This hardy tree tolerates drought and periods of flooding and requires little maintenance. Indian Plum is an asset to any landscape and is a great choice for a pollinator garden or wildlife habitat.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Greenwood Cuttings

Hardiness Zone:

6 - 10

Flowers:

Greenish-white Flowers

Sun:

Full sun,part shade

Soil:

Loamy Humus

Fruits:

green,yellow,purple Fruits In Summer Ready In Fall

Edible:

Yes

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Low

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Thorny:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Indian plum should be watered every 7 to 10 days when the soil feels dry to the touch. In drier regions, water should be increased accordingly. During flowering, increase watering frequency to every few days if there is insufficient rainfall. Providing a layer of mulch will help conserve moisture. The soil should be well-draining, as Indian plum does not tolerate soils that remain wet for long periods of time. When watering, make sure to provide enough water to thoroughly moisten the root zone.

sunlight

Indian plum (Oemleria cerasiformis) prefers full sun locations in order to reach its full potential, with best growth in 8-12 hours of direct sunlight each day. This species does well in partial shade, but may not develop as many flowers or produce as much fruit without consistent sunshine. To maximize winter hardiness, Indian plum should be provided with afternoon shade.

pruning

Indian plum (Oemleria cerasiformis) should be pruned in late winter, while the tree is still dormant, before new growth begins in mid-spring. Pruning should be done to reduce its size if it is outgrowing its space, shape the tree into an attractive form, remove dead or damaged branches, and open up the canopy to allow for abundant light and air circulation. When pruning Indian plum trees, be sure to use pruning shears to cut the branches off at an angle, flush to the trunk. Cuts should be made 1/4 inch above an outward-facing bud. Make sure to avoid leaving stubs and don’t shorten the branch back to a lateral branch. Lastly, remove any suckers that appear.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Indian plum typically starts flowering in March.

Harvest Fruit

The harvesting season for Oemleria cerasiformis, or Indian plum, typically begins in late May or early June.

Harvest Fruit

The harvesting season for Oemleria cerasiformis, or Indian plum, typically begins in late May or early June.

Hardiness Map