Prunus ×domestica
Common names
plum
Biostatus
Exotic
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Flower colours
Green, White
Detailed description
Deciduous small tree up to about 6 m tall, sometimes forming thickets, usually not armed. Leaves up to 70 x 45 mm on petiole of 15-30 mm. Leaf margins serrulate, lamina hairy at frost and with at least some hairs remaining when mature. White or greenish-white flowers in small clusters. Fruit (plums) to about 45 mm long, green, yellow, red or blackish purple (both flesh and skin) with a smooth stone.
Similar taxa
The young shoots dull and hairy, mature leaves usually with at least some hairs on major veins and lower part of margin distinguish this species. There is considerable variation in the fruit of cultivated specimens.
Habitat
Terrestrial. Near human settlements, waste places and forest margins
Conservation status
Not applicable
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Rosaceae
Ecology
Flowering
August, September
Fruiting
January, February
Year naturalised
1922
Origin
Cultivated hybrid
Reason for introduction
Agricultural
Tolerances
Can tolerate strong frosts.
Life cycle and dispersal
Can sucker to form small thickets, spread is predominantly by seed. Viable seed in each plum. Dispersed by humans and birds.
Other information
Environmental Weed (2024)
This plant is named in a list of 386 environmental weeds in New Zealand 2024 prepared by DOC. 759 candidate species were considered for inclusion on this new comprehensive list of environmental weeds in New Zealand. The species considered were drawn from published lists of weed species, lists of plants that must be reported or managed by law if observed, existing national and regional programmes and agreements for pest management, and species already managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC). Candidate species were then assessed to see if they were fully naturalised and whether they have more than minor impacts in natural ecosystems. Read the full report here.