Canada Plum vs Burning Bush - TreeTime.ca

Canada Plum vs Burning Bush

Prunus nigra

Euonymus alatus

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Canada Plum
Burning Bush

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.

Burning Bush is a unique shrub whose leaves turn firey red in the fall. You can plant it in rows to make a hedge or on its own. Burning Bush requires little maintenance and thrives in just about any kind of soil, which makes it a good choice for inexperienced growers. Plant it in full sun to get its best fall color.

Select Cultivar: Dwarf Burning Bush is a smaller variety of Burning Bush. This shrub has a compact form and only reaches 4-5ft tall and 4-5ft wide.

Note: Burning Bush is considered an invasive species in eastern North America. Please plant the right tree in the right place.

Canada Plum Quick Facts

Burning Bush Quick Facts

Zone: 2b
Zone: 4a
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: any
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: slow
Life span: medium
Life span: long
Suckering: high
Suckering: medium


Fall colour: attractive yellow, gold
Fall colour: fiery red
Bark: grey and scaly with age
Flowers: white
Flowers: yellow-green
Fruit: under 1 inch round yellow fruits with red blush to completely red, tart skin with sweet flesh
Berries: reddish purple
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: winged burning bush, winged euonymus, winged spindle