Flowering plum trees are popular ornamental trees, prized for their brilliant pink and white blossoms and striking purple foliage in spring. These trees belong to the Prunus genus, which includes peaches, cherries, and edible plums. A common question is whether these landscape additions, selected for their appearance, also produce edible fruit. The answer is complex, as the ornamental focus of these trees results in a very different fruiting outcome than that of commercial plum orchards.
The Direct Answer
Flowering plum trees do technically produce fruit, despite being grown primarily for their flowers and foliage. This production is typically sparse, and the fruit is often small and inconspicuous. These trees have been specifically bred to prioritize ornamental characteristics, such as dense spring bloom and vibrant leaf color, over the size and flavor of the fruit. Any fruit set that occurs tends to be minor, often dropping before it fully matures. The yield is low and the quality is poor for human consumption, meaning the fruit is not considered an agricultural crop.
Distinguishing Ornamental and Edible Varieties
The distinction between flowering and fruiting plums stems from the selective breeding within the Prunus genus. Ornamental varieties, such as the purple-leaf plum, are often cultivars of Prunus cerasifera or complex hybrids developed to maximize visual impact. These trees allocate resources toward spectacular floral displays and maintaining rich, dark purple pigmentation in their leaves.
Conversely, commercially grown plums are derived from species like Prunus domestica (European plums) or Prunus salicina (Japanese plums). These edible species are selected solely for high yield, large fruit size, and sweet flavor, and they lack the showy flowers or colored foliage of their ornamental cousins. Ornamental varieties sacrifice fruit quality and quantity to achieve aesthetic traits, resulting in a tree that is beautiful but not productive for eating.
Characteristics of the Fruit
The fruit produced by flowering plum trees is small, generally measuring an inch or less in diameter, often resembling a large cherry. It matures to a dark red or purplish color, sometimes with a dusty or waxy coating. This small size and color often allow it to blend easily into the dark foliage, going unnoticed by many gardeners.
While the fruit is considered safe to consume, the taste is overwhelmingly sour, tart, or astringent due to a high concentration of organic acids. For this reason, it is rarely eaten raw by humans. The fruit may occasionally be used for preserves, jams, or jellies because of its high pectin content and vivid color. Wildlife, such as birds, are the primary consumers of the small, tart plums that mature on these ornamental trees.