American plum (Prunus americana) is in the rose family family (Rosaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,645 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph American plum: observations by month (U.S.)
About American plum
Prunus americana, commonly called the American plum, wild plum, or Marshall's large yellow sweet plum, is a species of Prunus native to North America from Saskatchewan and Idaho south to New Mexico and east to Québec, Maine and Florida.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
American plum by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 1,054 | April | Apr–May |
| Minnesota | 131 | May | Apr–May |
| Illinois | 83 | April | Apr–May |
| Wisconsin | 68 | May | Apr–May |
| Nebraska | 59 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Kansas | 33 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Ohio | 33 | April | Apr–May |
| South Dakota | 32 | May | May–May |
| Missouri | 20 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Indiana | 13 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 12 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Virginia | 12 | April | Apr–Apr |
| North Carolina | 9 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Tennessee | 9 | April | Mar–Apr |
| West Virginia | 9 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Iowa | 8 | April | Apr–Apr |
| New Mexico | 8 | April | Apr–May |
| Connecticut | 7 | May | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 7 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Oklahoma | 7 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Montana | 5 | May | May–May |
| North Dakota | 5 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (rose family)
Multiflora Rose
Virginia strawberry
Southern Dewberry
Trailing Blackberry
Purple-Flowered Raspberry
Thimbleberry
Salmonberry
Mock Strawberry
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph American plum?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is American plum most often seen?
The most observations come from Colorado, Minnesota, Illinois.