Russian Almond vs Canada Plum & American Plum
Prunus tenella
Prunus nigra and americana
Russian Almond is a low maintenance, short, slightly suckering shrub. It is covered with attractive, bright pink flowers in early spring before its foliage emerges.
This hardy species forms dense thickets attracts wildlife. Russian Almond prefers full sun and well-drained soils, but can tolerate moist soils.
The nuts it produces are quite attractive but very small. They are bitter and possibly toxic in large quantities.
Check out our YouTube channel video of the Russian Almond here.
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.