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Creek Plum

Prunus rivularis

Other common name(s):

Hog Plum, River Plum

Family:

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Central Great Plains, Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau, Texas Blackland Prairies
Limestone Plains
Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

3
to
8
ft.

Spread

4
to
5
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Limestone, Alkaline

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Woodland, Wetland or Riparian

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Fruit, Fall Color, Pollen, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Bees

Maintenance

Thicket forming; prune to control size. Propagation: Hardwood cuttings, Root cuttings, Seeds, Semi-hardwood cuttings, Softwood cuttings.

Comments

Blooms March-April. Small, thicket-forming shrub on stony upland sites, in wooded canyons, and in valley bottoms with short trunk, many spreading branches, broad crown, showy large white flowers, and red plums. Leaves up to 2 ½” long, ovate to narrower, with small gland tipped teeth on the margins. Flowers in clusters of 2 to 4 along the branches, white, up to ½” wide; very noticeable in early spring in a drab countryside before many woody plants have put out new leaves. Fleshy fruit ripens to a shiny, bright red in August or September. Plums eaten fresh or used in jellies and preserves, and also consumed by birds. Provide nesting for birds. Larval Host: Red Admiral, Tiger Swallowtail.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym/s: Prunus reverchonii

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 53. 3) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 106. 4) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PRRI. 5) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=21592&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=24801#null

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State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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