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Beach Plum

Prunus maritima

Beach plum is the salt- and sand-tolerant shrub of Atlantic dunes, blanketed in white bloom then heavy with purple plums famous for jam. Among the toughest natives for seaside gardens.

Family
Rosaceae
Type
shrub
Lifespan
perennial
Height
3–8 ft
Spacing
4–8 ft apart
Light
sun
Soil moisture
dry, moist
Soil pH
acidic, neutral
Bloom
May
Bloom colors
white
Wildlife value
pollinators, songbirds, butterflies, larval host
Caterpillar hosts
~456 butterfly & moth species
Landscape uses
specimen, hedge or screen, foundation
Native states
CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI