Peking Cotoneaster vs Canada Plum & American Plum - TreeTime.ca

Peking Cotoneaster vs Canada Plum & American Plum

Cotoneaster acutifolia

Prunus nigra and americana

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

Peking Cotoneaster
Canada Plum & American Plum

Peking Cotoneaster is a medium-sized shrub that is well adapted to colder climates. Best suited for use as a hedge, Peking Cotoneaster has dark green foliage that turns a stunning reddish orange in the fall.

Hardy fruit guru, Bernie Nikolai (DBG Fruit Growers), has started to recommend grafting hardy pear varieties to Peking Cotoneaster after his experiences were successful and produced fruit faster than other rootstocks. Remember to leave some nurse limbs if you try this.

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.

Peking Cotoneaster Quick Facts

Canada Plum & American Plum Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 2b
Height: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: high
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: glossy upper surface
Fall colour: reddish-orange
Fall colour: attractive yellow, gold
Bark: grey and scaly with age
Flowers: white, spring
Flowers: white
Fruit: under 1 inch round yellow fruits with red blush to completely red, tart skin with sweet flesh
Berries: black fruit
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no

In row spacing: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)

Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Native to: MB, ON, QC, NB
Other Names: american plum, black plum, canada plum, horse plum, wild plum