Prunus maritima
Beach Plum

Uses

Toxic parts

Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, it belongs to a genus where most, if not all members of the genus produce hydrogen cyanide, a poison that gives almonds their characteristic flavour. This toxin is found mainly in the leaves and seed and is readily detected by its bitter taste. It is usually present in too small a quantity to do any harm but any very bitter seed or fruit should not be eaten. In small quantities, hydrogen cyanide has been shown to stimulate respiration and improve digestion, it is also claimed to be of benefit in the treatment of cancer. In excess, however, it can cause respiratory failure and even death.

Edible uses

Notes

Fruit - raw or cooked^[1]^[2]^[3]. Very variable in quality^[4], the best forms are sub-acid to sweet, the fruit can be eaten out of hand, used in pies, preserves etc or be dried for later use^[5]^[6]^[7]. The fruit is about 15mm in diameter and contains one large seed^[8]. Seed - raw or cooked. Do not eat the seed if it is too bitter - see the notes above on toxicity.

Fruit

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

A green dye can be obtained from the leaves^[9].

A dark grey to green dye can be obtained from the fruit^[9].

Plants have extensive root systems and can be used for binding sand along the coast^[8].

Unknown part

Dye

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, all members of the genus contain amygdalin and prunasin, substances which break down in water to form hydrocyanic acid (cyanide or prussic acid). In small amounts this exceedingly poisonous compound stimulates respiration, improves digestion and gives a sense of well-being^[10].

There are no medicinal uses listed for Prunus maritima.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Earth stabiliser

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - requires 2 - 3 months cold stratification and is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe^[8]. Sow stored seed in a cold frame as early in the year as possible^[8]. Protect the seed from mice etc. The seed can be rather slow, sometimes taking 18 months to germinate^[11]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow them on in a greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year.

Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July/August in a frame^[4]^[8]. Softwood cuttings from strongly growing plants in spring to early summer in a frame^[8].

Layering in spring.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Prunus maritima. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.

Cultivation

Thrives in a well-drained moisture-retentive loamy soil[, doing well on limestone11, 200]. Prefers some lime in the soil but is likely to become chlorotic if too much lime is present^[12]. Requires a sunny position^[4]. Tolerates maritime exposure^[4]^[3].

The beach plum is cultivated for its edible fruit in N. America, there are some named varieties^[7]. The fruit is often sold in local markets^[5] and the plant is of potential commercial importance^[6]. The fruit seldom ripens when grown in the interior of America^[1]. The cultivar 'Eastham' has large well-flavoured fruit and is a heavy cropper^[8]. 'Hancock' is an early ripening form with sweet juicy fruit^[8]. 'Squibnocket' is of high quality and is also a good sand binder^[8]. Most members of this genus are shallow-rooted and will produce suckers if the roots are damaged^[10].

Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus^[8].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Prunus maritima. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Prunus maritima.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

References

? ^1.0^1.1^1.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
? ^2.0^2.1 Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health (1973-00-00)
? ^3.0^3.1^3.2 Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books ISBN 0-394-72811-4 (1979-00-00)
? ^4.0^4.1^4.2^4.3^4.4^4.5 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
? ^5.0^5.1^5.2 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
? ^6.0^6.1^6.2 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)
? ^7.0^7.1^7.2 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
? ^8.00^8.01^8.02^8.03^8.04^8.05^8.06^8.07^8.08^8.09^8.10^8.11^8.12 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
? ^9.0^9.1^9.2 Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. ISBN 0-02-544950-8 (1974-00-00)
? ^10.0^10.1^10.2 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
? Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press ISBN 0942375009 (1987-00-00)
? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)

Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-182" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.

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[PFAFimport-2-1] ? ^1.0^1.1^1.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)

[PFAFimport-55-2] ? ^2.0^2.1 Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health (1973-00-00)

[PFAFimport-102-3] ? ^3.0^3.1^3.2 Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books ISBN 0-394-72811-4 (1979-00-00)

[PFAFimport-11-4] ? ^4.0^4.1^4.2^4.3^4.4^4.5 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)

[PFAFimport-46-5] ? ^5.0^5.1^5.2 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)

[PFAFimport-171-6] ? ^6.0^6.1^6.2 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)

[PFAFimport-183-7] ? ^7.0^7.1^7.2 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)

[PFAFimport-200-8] ? ^8.00^8.01^8.02^8.03^8.04^8.05^8.06^8.07^8.08^8.09^8.10^8.11^8.12 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)

[PFAFimport-168-9] ? ^9.0^9.1^9.2 Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. ISBN 0-02-544950-8 (1974-00-00)

[PFAFimport-238-10] ? ^10.0^10.1^10.2 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)

[PFAFimport-113-11] ? Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press ISBN 0942375009 (1987-00-00)

[PFAFimport-1-12] ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)

[PFAFimport-43-13] ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)

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Article is incomplete	Yes +
Article requires citations	No +
Article requires cleanup	Yes +
Belongs to family	Rosaceae +
Belongs to genus	Prunus +
Functions as	Earth stabiliser +
Has common name	Beach Plum +
Has drought tolerance	Intolerant +
Has edible part	Fruit + and Seeds +
Has edible use	Unknown use +
Has environmental tolerance	Maritime exposure + and High wind +
Has fertility type	Insects +
Has flowers of type	Hermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone	3 +
Has image	Prunus maritima.jpg +
Has lifecycle type	Perennial +
Has material part	Unknown part +
Has material use	Dye +
Has mature height	2.5 +
Has primary image	Prunus maritima.jpg +
Has search name	prunus maritima + and x +
Has shade tolerance	No shade +
Has soil ph preference	Acid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil teclayture preference	Clay +
Has soil teloamyture preference	Loamy +
Has soil tesandyture preference	Sandy +
Has soil water retention preference	Well drained +
Has sun preference	Full sun +
Has taxonomy name	Prunus maritima +
Has water requirements	moderate +
Is deciduous or evergreen	Deciduous +
Is herbaceous or woody	Woody +
Is taxonomy type	Species +
Tolerates maritime exposure	Yes +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soil	No +
Tolerates wind	Yes +
Uses mature size measurement unit	Meters +