Thunderchild Flowering Crab vs Canada Plum & American Plum - TreeTime.ca

Thunderchild Flowering Crab vs Canada Plum & American Plum

Malus x adstringens Thunderchild

Prunus nigra and americana

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

Thunderchild Flowering Crab
Canada Plum & American Plum

Thunderchild Flowering Crab is a hybrid crab apple known for its attractive and fragrant dark pink blossoms and deep purple mature leaves.

Tree farmers will find this hybrid appealing as a pollinator for other apples, while home growers will enjoy the red pome's ability to attract flocks of Cedar Waxwings in the early spring.

This species is reportedly resistant to fireblight.

Canada and American Plum are almost identical in appearance and growth needs. These plants are short and stout fruit trees native to North America.

This hardy ornamental is excellent for both city dwellings as well as rural areas. During the spring, the white and pink blossoms are long lasting. The tasty fruit is suitable for fresh eating, baking, and preserves. These trees are not widely distributed and pure seed can be hard to come by.

Both are commonly used as rootstock and are considered universal pollinizers for other plum varieties.

Thunderchild Flowering Crab Quick Facts

Canada Plum & American Plum Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 2b
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: high


Foliage: dark purple leaves
Fall colour: dark red
Fall colour: attractive yellow, gold
Bark: grey and scaly with age
Flowers: dark pink blossoms
Flowers: white
Fruit: small red pomes that hang through the winter
Fruit: under 1 inch round yellow fruits with red blush to completely red, tart skin with sweet flesh
Berries: small red pomes that hang through the winter
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: american plum, black plum, canada plum, horse plum, wild plum