Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
cluding the southeastern states. While it lacks the cold hardiness and fla-
vor of American plum, it is more resistant to brown blight. This crop is
used mostly for processing; varieties include 'Wayland' and 'Golden Beauty'.
Wild plums have been valuable as parents in developing low- and medium-
chilling, disease-resistant Japanese hybrids.
Munson's or wild goose plum
(
Prunus munsoniana
) is cultivated in the
southern Mississippi Valley, where it has proven to be resistant to frost and
brown blight. 'Wild Goose' is a named variety for this crop.
Beach plum
(
Prunus maritima
) is native along the Atlantic Seaboard from
Virginia to New Brunswick and is considered hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 7,
depending on seed source. The dark blue to purple fruits are quite tart, are
generally used for processing, and have been the subject of repeated efforts
at cultivation. In 1948, for example, the Cape Cod Beach Plum Growers As-
sociation was formed in Massachusetts but proved short-lived. Beach plums
today are mostly used as edible ornamentals in landscapes. Fruits are har-
vested from the wild and sold commercially in products targeting the tourist
industry. The fruits range in color from red to blue to purple to black and
are about the size of a cherry. Flavors are tart and resemble plums or grapes.
Four named varieties of beach plum exist, 'Autumn' probably being the most
reliable producer. The bushes flower each year but often bear only every 2
to 3 years. Beach plums are quite susceptible to the same pests and diseases
that affect peaches and plums.
Oregon, Sierra,
or
Klamath plum
(
Prunus subcordata
) is native along the Pa-
cific coast from southern California to northern Washington. The small, tart
fruits are used for sauces and preserves similarly to cranberries. Susceptib-
ility to brown blight has made cultivation difficult, but the species is being
tested as a dwarfing rootstock for peaches and plums.
