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Flowering Plum is a free growing ornamental
tree
The Flowering Plum is a broad term used to
refer to a range of plum trees that are both native and introduced
and can be found growing in valleys and low slopes across
the US. They can even be seen by the side of roads and fences,
especially in those parts of North America where the soil
is moist and is made of clay, loam, and sand.
The Flowering Plums are largely grown for
their ornamental value, though some species are also known
for their juicy fruits and jellies. They grow easily and can
reach a height of nine meters.
The most common domesticated plum is the Garden
Plum found in Europe and Western Asia. It was introduced to
North America by French and British colonists, and has a gray
bark that may be smooth, or fissured.
The American Plum has a dark brown bark that
is scaly. It is a native of North America and is found throughout
much of eastern US, Oklahoma in the west, Montana in the north
and Saskatchewan in the south east. The American Plum grows
throughout the state of Ohio.
The Canada Plum is found in North America,
and grows best in southern Canada and northern US west to
Illinois and Minnesota. In Ohio it is found in a few of the
northern counties. Some types have been developed for fruits
and others for flowers.
The leaf of the Flowering Plum is broad and
less than 13 cm long. It turns bronze or purple in autumn
before falling off. The flower bud is pink and turns white
as it opens. The fruit pip is bigger than 3 cm and is blue
and red. When it matures it hangs low on the twigs which are
as thick as a medium pencil. The bark is dark brown and furrowed.
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