flowering shrub/tree in Boulder county - Ask Extension
Hello, I have seen a flowering shrub/tree along several rural roads and open spaces in Boulder county and I wanted help identifying it. Is this a nati...
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flowering shrub/tree in Boulder county #866930
Asked May 03, 2024, 3:52 PM EDT
Hello, I have seen a flowering shrub/tree along several rural roads and open spaces in Boulder county and I wanted help identifying it. Is this a native plant and is it is typically available to buy locally? Thank you!
Boulder County Colorado
Expert Response
Hello Nicholas,
Thank you for writing to CSU Extension with plant identification question. The photos are excellent.
What you're seeing is the American/wild plum. It is a Colorado native shrub, described as existing in Colorado prior to European settlement.
As your photos indicate, it's thicket-forming, with white flowers that show before leaves. Its fruit is good for preserves. It also attracts wildlife. The shrub is cold and drought tolerant, with yellow to red fall color. And as you've noticed, it's found along canyons and slope bottoms.
Below is the link to CSU Extension Fact Sheet 7.422 "Native Shrubs for Colorado Landscapes" (it's quite extensive). It also has information about culture and maintenance of native shrubs, as well as the life zones in which they grow best (the American/wild plum life zone is 4,500 - 8,500 feet).
https://source.colostate.edu/prepare-trees-winter/
The shrubs in the table are grown by some Colorado nurseries and are becoming more available in the commercial sector. However, not all shrubs listed are available at all nurseries, so you may need to contact a number of commercial outlets to find a specific plant. If a shrub isn't sold in the trade, asking for it may help increase availability. CSU Extension doesn't recommend collecting native shrubs from the wild because this reduces biodiversity and causes a disturbed area that may be invaded by weeds.
I hope this information is helpful to you! If you have other questions about this or any other home horticulture needs, please don't hesitate to reach out to us again.
Regards,
CSU Extension Master Gardener
Boulder County
Thank you for writing to CSU Extension with plant identification question. The photos are excellent.
What you're seeing is the American/wild plum. It is a Colorado native shrub, described as existing in Colorado prior to European settlement.
As your photos indicate, it's thicket-forming, with white flowers that show before leaves. Its fruit is good for preserves. It also attracts wildlife. The shrub is cold and drought tolerant, with yellow to red fall color. And as you've noticed, it's found along canyons and slope bottoms.
Below is the link to CSU Extension Fact Sheet 7.422 "Native Shrubs for Colorado Landscapes" (it's quite extensive). It also has information about culture and maintenance of native shrubs, as well as the life zones in which they grow best (the American/wild plum life zone is 4,500 - 8,500 feet).
https://source.colostate.edu/prepare-trees-winter/
The shrubs in the table are grown by some Colorado nurseries and are becoming more available in the commercial sector. However, not all shrubs listed are available at all nurseries, so you may need to contact a number of commercial outlets to find a specific plant. If a shrub isn't sold in the trade, asking for it may help increase availability. CSU Extension doesn't recommend collecting native shrubs from the wild because this reduces biodiversity and causes a disturbed area that may be invaded by weeds.
I hope this information is helpful to you! If you have other questions about this or any other home horticulture needs, please don't hesitate to reach out to us again.
Regards,
CSU Extension Master Gardener
Boulder County
