Round Leaf Hawthorn vs American Plum - TreeTime.ca

Round Leaf Hawthorn vs American Plum

Crataegus chrysocarpa (Crataegus rotundifolia)

Prunus americana

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

COMING SOON

Round Leaf Hawthorn
American Plum

Getting its name from rounded, toothed leaves, the Round Leaf Hawthorn is a winter hardy shrub that grows small, red, berry-like fruits.

Commonly used for landscaping, this shrub can also be found along stream banks and in wooded areas. Caution is advised when handling the Round Leaf Hawthorn, as it can have sharp thorns approximately 1" long.

American Plum is a cold-hardy wild plum native to North America that grows as a small tree or large multi-stemmed shrub. Small, firm, red plums ripen from mid to late summer; the skin is tough and tart, whereas the flesh is sweet and juicy. While some enjoy eating them 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.

In spring, American Plum produces abundant white to pink flowers that attract a variety of pollinators, providing an important early-season source of nectar and pollen. It also serves as a host plant for numerous moth and butterfly species. In its native range, it is recognized as an important keystone plant, as it has a disproportionately large impact on local ecosystems.

American Plum tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, from acidic to alkaline, and heavy clay. It is well suited to a variety of projects, including fruit orchards for cross-pollination, as well as pollinator plantings, naturalization, and restoration projects.

Round Leaf Hawthorn Quick Facts

American Plum Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 6 m (20 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: fast
Life span: long
Life span: medium
Growth form: rounded to spreading, thicket forming
Spreading: suckering - high
Suckering: none
Maintenance: medium


Toxicity: leaves, stems, pits contain cyanide
Foliage: round, serrated
Fall colour: gold to orange
Flowers: showy white
Flowers: fragrant, white
Bloom time: early to mid spring
Fruit: small red berries
Fruit: small, red plums
Fruit size: 2-3cm in diameter
Firmness: firm
Harvest: mid to late summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, PE
Native to: SK, MB, ON
Other Names: american wild plum, wild plum