Prunus umbellata Common names include Flatwoods Plum, Hog Plum, Black Sloe. Flatwoods Plum is a deciduous large shrub to small tree with a short, singular trunk and a compact, flattened crown of branches. Its ovate to elliptic leaves are small and green, turning yellow in the fall before they drop in the winter. Once established, this ornamental tree is fairly drought tolerant. It's small white, sometimes slightly pink, flowers bloom for around a month in Spring, attracting native bees and other pollinators. If pollinated, these flowers become small edible plums, tasting slightly bitter when eaten straight off the tree. They start off yellowish or red, and ripen to purple or black. They can be made into jellies and jams to increase their sweetness. It is recommended to remove seeds before eating since, like apple seeds, they contain trace amounts of toxic cyanogenic compounds. Height: 10'-20'Spread: 10'-20'Bloom: February-MayLight: Full Sun-Part ShadeWater: LowZone: 3-10Origin: Texas, southeastern U.S.
