Black Locust vs Opata Cherry Plum - TreeTime.ca

Black Locust vs Opata Cherry Plum

Robinia pseudoacacia

Prunus besseyi x salicina Opata

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Black Locust
Opata Cherry Plum

Black Locust is an attractive tree. Its distinctive leaves are made of about a dozen bright green leaflets. It also notable for its fragrant white flowers, which smell of citrus.

Black Locust can grow in many situations, but prefers dry areas with lots of sun. It is robust and is an excellent choice for establishing shade in dry, open areas.

Important note: Much of the Black Locust is toxic to humans and livestock, including seeds, bark, and leaves.

Opata Cherry Plum is considered to be one of the best tasting Cherry Plum varieties. It has a pleasant, sweet flavour and a hint of acidity. They ripen in mid to late August and are well suited to fresh eating, baking, and preserves.

The fruit is closer to a plum than a cherry but is smaller than most plums.The Opata Cherry Plum’s skin is red/green whereas the flesh is yellow-green. The flesh is freestone with a juicy, firm texture. Similar to other stone fruits, it does not store for very long.

The Opata Cherry Plum is a hybrid between a Western Sand Cherry and a Japanese (Chinese) Plum. For fruit production, it needs to be planted with another variety for cross-pollination. Canada Plum and American Plum are considered universal pollinizers.

Black Locust Quick Facts

Opata Cherry Plum Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 2a
Height: 12 m (40 ft)
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 8 m (25 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: long
Life span: short
Suckering: high
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium


Bark: dark reddish brown to balck with furrows
Flowers: Creamy white flowers in a pyramidal shape bloom in may-june
Fruit: skin green and red, flesh yellow-green
Fruit size: 3 cm in diameter
Flavor: pleasant and sweet, hint of acidity
Harvest: mid to late August
Seeds: dark brown peapod-like pods
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: false acacia, yellow locust
Other Names: opata chum, opata plum cherry