Klamath Plum
Prunus subcordata
- Native to:
- United States
Franco Folini (www.flickr.com) from San Francisco, USA
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Species:
- Prunus subcordata
- USDA Symbol:
- PRSU2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 800 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pink
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Acrobasis tricolorella, Western tent caterpillar (Malacosoma californica)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, bees
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow, orange, red
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from the root crown following fire. Common in fire-adapted chaparral and oak woodland communities.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, rocky or sandy loam
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- often found in open woodlands and chaparral
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 90–120 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold-moist stratification; germination can be erratic. Fresh seed germinates more readily than dried seed.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are placed into fine mesh bags and soaked in a 1% hydrogen peroxide solution (3:1 water/3% hydrogen peroxide) for 24 hours, rinsed, and placed in water for an additional 48 hours. Seeds are then layered in peat and placed into cold stratification (1 to 3 °C) for 100 days. Seeds in peat should be checked weekly for mold, and treated with 1% hydrogen peroxide if mold is evident.
Source: npn.rngr.net