Wild goose plum, Munson plum
Prunus munsoniana
Family: Rosaceae
What it is like
A small tree. It grows 8 m high and spreads 6 m wide. It can form thickets. It loses its leaves during the year. The trunk is 15 cm across. The young stems are red. The leaves are 6-10 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. They are sword shaped with a long tip. The leaves are shiny green above and paler underneath. There are fine teeth along the edge. The flowers are white and occur in small clusters. The fruit are bright red. They are edible but bitter. They can be sweet.
There are about 200 Prunus species.
Where it is found
Temperate. It is native to central USA. It grows in moist soils on slopes. It suits hardiness zones 6-9.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia, North America, USA
How it is used for food
The fruit are eaten raw. They are also used in jellies, jams and preserves.
Some varieties are grown commercially. It is a cultivated food plant. Fruit are sold in markets.
Edible parts
Fruit, seeds