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Canada Plum & American Plum vs Opata Cherry Plum
Prunus nigra and americana
Prunus besseyi x salicina Opata
NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON
(new stock expected: fall of 2026)
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.
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.