Some types of plum trees are grown for their beauty, but most are valued for their fruit. People eat plums fresh or canned, cooked in jams, and baked in pastries. Plums can also be made into beverages. Some types of plums are dried to make prunes, which keep far longer than do fresh plums.

Where plums grow

Plum trees grow in a wide range of climates in many parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. China, the United States, Germany, and Romania are leading plum-producing countries. Most of the plums produced in the United States come from the state of California.

Physical features

Plum trees come in many sizes, shapes, and colors. Some are shrubs only about 3 feet (1 meter) tall, while others reach heights up to 33 feet (10 meters). The bark may be brown, reddish brown, or gray. Sometimes the bark becomes rough or cracked as the tree ages. The leaves are egg-shaped with pointed tips and jagged edges. They are typically up to about 4 inches (10 centimeters) long. They may be light green, dark green, green with red or purple, or reddish purple.

Most plum trees grow short, thorny twigs called spurs. Flowers blossom in clusters on the spurs, sometimes before the leaves emerge. Flowers may be white, pink, or red. Later in the season, a portion of the flower grows into a fruit. At the center of the fruit is a seed, which is protected by a hard stone, or pit. Surrounding the stone is the juicy flesh, which is sealed in by the skin.

The fruit of plum trees may be as small as a cherry or larger than a hen's egg. The skin may be yellow, green, red, or dark purple. Sometimes it has a whitish coating. The flesh is red to gold and may be sweet or tart in flavor.

Types of plums

Many of the plums sold in supermarkets, even in North America, come from types of trees that originally grew in Europe and Asia. The common European plum was first grown in southeastern Europe more than 2,000 years ago. This plant was later brought to North America by European settlers. The damson plum, which is often made into jams, took its name from the city of Damascus in western Asia, where it was grown in ancient times. Japanese plum trees originated in China thousands of years ago but were brought to Japan about 300 years ago, and they spread around the world from there. There is a plum tree that is native to North America, but the fruits of this tree are not as sweet or highly prized as are the European and Japanese fruits.