Beach plum facts for kids
The beach plum (scientific name: Prunus maritima) is a type of plum that grows naturally along the East Coast of the United States. You can find it from Maine all the way south to Maryland. It's a special plant that loves sandy beaches and coastal areas.
Quick facts for kids Beach plum |
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Prunus
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maritima
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The beach plum is usually a deciduous shrub, meaning it loses its leaves in the fall. In its natural home on sand dunes, it typically grows about 1 to 2 meters (40 to 80 inches) tall. If it's grown in a garden, it can get much bigger, sometimes up to 4 meters (over 13 feet) tall!
Its leaves are oval-shaped, about 3–7 cm (1.2–2.8 inches) long. They have jagged edges, are green on top, and lighter underneath. In the autumn, these leaves turn a beautiful red or orange color.
The flowers are small, about 1–1.5 cm (0.4–0.6 inches) across. They have five white petals and bright yellow parts called anthers. These flowers bloom in mid-May and June.
The fruit of the beach plum is edible and looks like a small plum. It's about 1.5–2 cm (0.6–0.8 inches) wide. The fruit can be red, yellow, blue, or almost black when ripe. It ripens in August and early September. While you can eat them fresh, they are often a bit bitter or sour.
There's a special type of beach plum with rounded leaves. Only one wild plant of this kind was ever found in Connecticut. It's now grown from cuttings to keep it alive.
This plant is very tough! It can handle salty air and cold weather. It grows best in full sun and soil that drains well. It spreads by sending out new shoots from its roots. On sand dunes, it can even survive being partly covered by blowing sand.
Unfortunately, the beach plum is in danger in Maine. Its natural beach homes are being developed, which means fewer places for it to grow.
Growing and Using Beach Plums
Beach plums are grown by farmers to make delicious jam. Even though they can be a bit tart when eaten fresh, they are perfect for cooking. These plums are much smaller than the bigger plums you might see in a grocery store.
People have chosen special types of beach plums to grow that have bigger and tastier fruit. Some of these types are called Resigno, Eastham, Hancock, and Squibnocket.
Some companies use beach plums to make other products. For example, Natali Vineyards in Goshen, New Jersey makes a wine from beach plums. Also, Greenhook Ginsmiths in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York uses beach plums to flavor their gin.
How the Beach Plum Got Its Name
The beach plum was first officially described by a person named Marshall in 1785. He called it Prunus maritima, which means "Sea side Plumb."
Some places are even named after the beach plum! These include Plum Island, Massachusetts, and Plum Island, New York. You can also find Plum Cove Beach in Lanesville, Gloucester, Massachusetts, and Beach Plum Island State Park in Sussex County, Delaware.
Gallery
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Ripe beach plums at the North Beach area of Sandy Hook, New Jersey
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Beach plum blooms at Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts
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Resigno Cultivar in Philadelphia garden, Pennsylvania
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Beach plums in early stages of bloom
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See also
In Spanish: Prunus maritima para niños
