Indian Plum

Posted on April 3, 2021 by

27 Comments

I discovered a new shrub this spring – or should I say I discovered its name?

I’d seen it many times on my walks in the woods, always stopping to admire its growth in the dead of winter and its blossoms in early spring. But it was only recently I learned its name – Indian Plum – and since then I have a new appreciation tor this native shrub, one of the first to bloom in the Pacific Northwest.

I saw it growing abundantly on recent walks in filtered sunlight under the canopy of trees and also under bright sunshine near the edges of the trail.

‘We should get one,’ I told my husband! ‘See how beautiful they are and how easily they grow!’

Little did I know, for as I scrolled through pictures I’d taken earlier in my yard I found one – yes, an Indian Plum I didn’t know I had. It was growing in an unkempt area near the driveway, alongside some blackberry bushes where it got no attention or respect. I could transplant it but since it sprang up where it chose why should I interfere?

Prized by Pacific Coast Native Americans who used the berries, twigs, and bark for food, teas and medicine, it’s also loved by birds and other wildlife.

For Cee’s Flower of the Day and Becky’s BrightSquares.

~ Susanne

Category: Nature, PhotographyTags: , , , , , , , ,

27 Comments on “Indian Plum”

  1. Susanne, it is beautiful and subtle just like the colors of the Pacific Northwest. (Other than rhodys and azaleas and probably others that skip my mind.) I had no idea about the story behind them, though. Thanks for sharing. It’s like coming home for a visit. 🙂

    • Thank you so much! 🙂 I realized I’d seen them for years in the woods but didn’t pay much attention to them. Somehow finding out the name and a little more about them made me appreciate their beauty!

      • Isn’t that true, Susanne. I am learning about birds from Lisa, and I appreciate them so much more now. Names ARE important. It draws our attention and makes us sit up and take notice. 🙂

  2. I love when something springs up all by itself…free plants! I wonder if that grows over here on the East side? It has pretty flowers, are they fragrant?

    • I think it likes the coastal areas so I’m not sure if it grows east of the mountains. I didn’t notice any fragrance but will take a closer whiff sometime! I also didn’t realize it has berries so I’ll watch for those too!

  3. I love wild-flowers, I could have my garden full of them, but they aren’t hubby’s favourites.

    • These are natives and grow wild on the Pacific Coast. I wouldn’t have known quite where to plant it in my yard so was happy to see it planted itself! 🙂

    • It’s funny I’d see it in the woods and marvel at its early blooms but didn’t know much else about it. I think it mainly grows the on the Pacific Coast, probably too hot and dry where you are.

  5. It’s pretty! Sometimes the naturals, as my hubby calls them, are as breathtaking as anything we can plant ❤

  6. I had never heard of an Indian Plum, but it looks like a lovely shrub to have.
    Best wishes, Pete.

    • Thanks Pete. I’d seen it many times in the woods but never learned the name till recently. It’s native to the west coast of the U.S.

  8. That’s a very pretty plant! I haven’t noticed any in our yard though- although peppermint takes over everything. But it smells so good when the breeze blows in the summer!

  9. oh this is so lovely, and what a wonderful find to discover you had one growing in the garden after all. A perfect bright square – so happy you have joined us again

  10. I got a little app for my phone called, I think, Plant Snap. Anyway it allows me to take a photo of something and quickly identify it. It is a lot of fun, as you point out here, to find out what something I have been seeing for ages is called.

    • Sounds like a great app. Is it free? We took a forest walk recently and the trees and shrubs were labeled, which is how I learned the name of the Indian Plum. Once you know the name of something you seem to appreciate it more!

  11. That is a lovely shrub! Isn’t it great to have something that grows in winter and blooms early. Very nice that you had one in your garden!

    • I was so surprised to find it growing in my garden. It seems that since I
      learned the name I’m seeing it everywhere!

  12. Pingback: Bright Poppies – The life of B

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