Canada Plum

Pollinator Value

🔑 Keystone: Prunus is a keystone genus supporting 407 species of butterflies and moths in the Algonquin/Southern Laurentians ecoregion. Four native Prunus species occur locally, including P. nigra, P. virginiana, P. pensylvanica, and P. susquehanae. The genus provides critical larval food for high-profile species such as Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Viceroy, Coral Hairstreak, and Hummingbird Clearwing.
S13 407 lepidoptera spp.; S15 verified Eastern NA records
🐛 Larval Host: Harkenclenus titus, Furcula borealis, Haploa clymene, Hemaris thysbe, Limenitis archippus, Ceratomia amyntor, Scopula limboundata, Paonias myops, Acronicta interrupta, Sphinx kalmiae, Pyrrharctia isabella, Hyles lineata, Limenitis arthemis, Xanthotype sospeta, Papilio glaucus
S13+S15 15 verified Eastern NA
❄️ Winter Food Source: Prunus fruits are consumed by at least 37 bird species at the genus level, including Ruffed Grouse, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Evening Grosbeak, Wild Turkey, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Fruits ripen Aug-Sep and are quickly consumed; they do not persist on the tree. American Black Bear also feeds on the fruits. The Hoary Bat uses larger plum trees for daytime roost sites.
S57 37 bird species genus-level; S10 Black Bear, Ruffed Grouse, Hoary Bat; S72 Hemenway Table 7-2 bird fruit

Proximity Score: 0
Native Status: ✅ Outaouais ✅ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: Local
CEC Eco-Regions: 5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians
Rarity Notes: Ranked S3 (Vulnerable) in Quebec and S4 (Apparently Secure) in Ontario. Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. NatureServe global rank G5 with national rank N4 in both Canada and the United States. The species is sparse on the Quebec side of the Outaouais region per Gillett & White (1978) and common in the Ottawa area per Brunton (2005).
S22 G5 N4 S4-ON S3-QC; S26 SARA not listed; S63 sparse in Hull-Ottawa QC-side; S62 common in Ottawa
Rarity Ranks: QC S3 – Vulnerable, ON S4 – Apparently Secure
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: Canada plum occupies edges and borders of deciduous forests, bottomland woods, riverbanks, thickets, and fencerows across the mixed wood landscape. It thrives on calcareous and alluvial soils in the Ottawa Valley and is documented from limestone alvars in Pontiac County. A suckering, thicket-forming species that colonizes disturbed openings and forest margins, often associated with sugar maple, basswood, and ironwood.
S6 borders of deciduous woods, bottomland forests; S10 woodland borders, thickets; S7 hardwoods and borders of forests, riverbanks; S29 alluvial soils, limestone hills; S48 Aylmer specimen on calcareous rock, Pontiac alvar

Roles: Fortress/Barrier, Pollinator Attractor, Wildlife Habitat
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fortress/Barrier: S10 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only); S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [MEDIUM]: S68 8 bee associations (threshold=3)] | Wildlife Habitat: S72 Hemenway (tables: 7-2, pp. 116)]
Notes: Canada plum is best planted in woodland edge or hedgerow guilds where its thicket-forming habit provides barrier and wildlife habitat functions. Avoid planting near potatoes as it harbours Mealy Plum Aphid and other aphids that can transfer to solanaceous crops. The suckering habit can be an asset in buffer plantings but may require management in small gardens.
S29 bad companion for potatoes, suckering habit; S10 aphid associations

Category: Pectoral, Stomachic, Antiemetic, Cough Medicine
S28 Cough Medicine (Algonquin), Antiemetic (Meskwaki); S29 Pectoral, Stomachic
Notes: The Algonquin of Quebec used an infusion of the inner bark to treat coughs and an infusion of roots as a medicinal tea. The Meskwaki used an infusion of bark to settle the stomach when it would not retain food. The Ojibwa used the inner bark as an astringent colour fixative in dyeing. All Prunus species contain amygdalin and prunasin, which break down to form hydrocyanic acid.
S28 Algonquin cough medicine, Meskwaki antiemetic, Ojibwa dye mordant; S29 amygdalin and prunasin

✅ Edible ✅ Commonly Eaten

Foraging Notes: Fruit eaten fresh, cooked, dried, and made into preserves and jellies by Algonquin, Iroquois, Meskwaki, and Ojibwa peoples. The Iroquois mashed fruits into small cakes and dried them for winter use and as hunting food. Flavour is sour with a thick skin, improved by frost. The seed contains prussic acid and must be removed before consumption.
S28 10 food uses; S29 edibility 4/5, sour with thick skin, improved by frost; S4 children have died from eating fruits without removing stones