This edible and medicinal plum tree used to be widespread throughout Ontario. The stones were dropped along trails and around villages, wrapping the world in a plum thicket.
But now Canada plum (Prunus nigra) is uncommon here, which is surprising as wildlife loves to gobble up the fruit, so you’d think it be dispersed all over even without human help. You might yet find it on the edges of woods or in fencerows.
Why is it so sparse now? Likely because it attracts an aphid that attacks potato crops, so it has been cut down in many areas. This bone-to-pick has made such a difference to the plum that it seemed like the aspect to note in our title. Our “forbidden” plum tree isn’t “bad” though..
Edible Uses of Canada Plum
The small (maybe an inch thick) edible fruits are both tinier and tougher, and not as sweet as the plums you’d find in a store. But they are fleshier than their wild cherry cousins. And after a good frost they’ll sweeten somewhat.
The plums can be dried or cooked. They can be sweetened and made into preserves or marmalade, even plum sauce or plum butter.
Sun dried fruits can be boiled to make a coffee substitute.
Medicinal Uses of Canada Plum
Canada plum is primarily said to support these body systems:
- Digestive
- Integumentary
- Respiratory
Medicinal tags include Astringent. See Medicinal tag key for more information.
Common usage includes the astringent rootlets or bark tea for diarrhea and upset stomach.
Alternative Uses of Canadian Plum
The leaves yield a green dye and the fruits a grey to green dye. As for dyes it’s a fixative; the inner bark and roots can be mixed into other plant dye recipes to fix the colors.
Its small size means the wood is not commercially used, but it’s still decent for woodworking. And neat – when bruised the wood turns red.
Growing Prunus Nigra
I bought my Canada plum from the Hardy Fruit Tree Nursery in Quebec. They can make a wonderful thicket over time, and I hope to surround my “lawn” with this among other spreading shrubs. Will it spell ruin for my potatoes? I’m going to tempt fate anyway. If I have a problem with the aphids in the future this entry will be updated with the details! My plan B is to grow the potatoes in a bag and make a potato bag bug suit out of cheap bug suits and duck tape – if need be – wish me luck. 😉
They do like full sun. Once the plant is established it should spread rapidly through suckers, becoming a birds paradise of a thicket.
WARNINGS
And the Usual Cautions:
1) Most medicinal herbs, if edible, are meant to be eaten in moderation, even sparingly. Some require extra preparation. Tannins are toxic if consumed in excess. Before taking any new supplements, you should consult with a healthcare professional.
2) A vast amount of these herbs are diuretic. (See the Medicinal tags above to check if this featured herb is one of them!) Diuretics are generally safe, but they can be risky for people with other medical conditions or who take certain medications. Please consult your doctor if you have any health conditions.
3) People can be allergic or sensitive to nearly any plant; try new herbs one at a time at your own risk. For instance, saponins commonly cause stomach upset.
4) For serious medicinal use, I must recommend receiving a diagnosis and working with a reputed health care provider. I generally do not post specific treatments and dosages because I think that is best between you and your health care provider, and ideally monitored.
5) Anyone pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription drugs should talk to a health care professional before adding new food items to their diet.
6) Many plants have look-a-likes, and sometimes they are poisonous.
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REFERENCES
My new favourite foraging book is Sam Thayer’s Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants of Eastern & Central North America and this plant IS NOT featured in his book. Which to the least means it isn’t a popular edible. I highly recommend this thorough guide for your bookshelves!
*Sam does include many Prunus species though.
Prunus nigra Aiton – Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN)
The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine
An Eclectic Guide to Trees East of the Rockies
Edible and Medicinal Plants of Canada
Field Guide to North American Edible Wild Plants (Out of Print)
They’re ripe now!! They’re the size of a fat cherry maybe, sweet and tart!! I’ll be making a little plum sauce later today. I use a cherry pitter.
Black Cherry – Prunus Serotina: The Cherry Cough Drop of Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants - Song of the Woods
[…] Black cherry is our only tall cherry tree, but we have many shrubbier prunus spp. that wildlife love too including chokecherry, fire cherry, sand cherry and Canada plum. […]