Canada Plum vs Rosy Lights Rhododendron (Azalea) - TreeTime.ca

Canada Plum vs Rosy Lights Rhododendron (Azalea)

Prunus nigra

Rhododendron x Rosy Lights

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

CUSTOM GROW

Canada Plum
Rosy Lights Rhododendron (Azalea)

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.

Rosy Lights Rhododendron is the next flowering, deciduous shrub you need in your garden. It is incredibly cold hardy and produces fragrant, bright pink blooms in late spring. Pruning is recommended after the flowers are finished to control the size and shape of this shrub.

Try Rosy Lights Rhododendron when planning your next hedge/screen, or plant it on its own as a striking accent plant. Part of the Northern Lights Series.

Canada Plum Quick Facts

Rosy Lights Rhododendron (Azalea) Quick Facts

Zone: 2b
Zone: 4a
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: high
Suckering: low
Maintenance: medium


Toxicity: All parts of a rhododendron bush, including the leaves, stems and blooms, are toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.
Fall colour: attractive yellow, gold
Fall colour: Maroon
Bark: grey and scaly with age
Flowers: white
Flowers: large, pink
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