Mock Orange vs Canada Plum - TreeTime.ca

Mock Orange vs Canada Plum

Prunus nigra

Philadelphus coronarius

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Canada Plum
Mock Orange

Canada Plum is a cold-hardy wild plum native to North America with small red fruit. They ripen in mid to late summer, with bitter, astringent skin surrounding sweet, slightly acidic flesh that clings to the stone. While some enjoy eating the plums fresh, they are more commonly used for baking and preserves. It is considered a universal pollinizer for other plum varieties and is often used for grafting or as a rootstock.

White to pink flowers appear in spring, often before the leaves, providing an early source of nectar and pollen for native bees and other pollinators. Birds and other wildlife also feed on the fruit, adding to its ecological value. Canada Plum can grow as a small tree or large, multi-stemmed shrub. It is well suited to a variety of projects, including fruit orchards for cross-pollination, as well as pollinator plantings, naturalization, and restoration projects.

Mock Orange is an ornamental shrub known for its fragrant, white flowers. The scent is often described as orange-like with a hint of jasmine. Attractive to pollinators, hummingbirds, and humans alike.

Mock Orange is highly versatile, and can be used as an ornamental shrub, either alone or as a hedge. It is well suited for streambank stabilization and riparian zone restoration, due to its ability to grow in low, moist areas as well as those that are high and dry. Lewis Mock Orange also has the capability of being used in soil bioengineering projects such as live staking.

Canada Plum Quick Facts

Mock Orange Quick Facts

Zone: 2b
Zone: 4a
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Height: 3 m (11 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Spread: 3 m (11 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: any
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: high
Suckering: high
Maintenance: medium


Fall colour: attractive yellow, gold
Bark: grey and scaly with age
Flowers: white
Flowers: large, white
Fruit: under 1 inch round yellow fruits with red blush to completely red, tart skin with sweet flesh
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: MB, ON, QC, NB
Other Names: american plum, black plum, canada plum, horse plum, wild plum
Other Names: english dogwood