Small trees growing in a group across the sidewalk from the south entrance of the horticulture hothouses.
American plum is native
to eastern and midwestern North America, extending locally in the west,
and is native throughout Iowa. It often forms colonies along roadsides in
its native region. Fruits ripen in late August and are red or purplish,
with a tough, astringent skin and juicy, yellow, edible flesh enclosing
a large, flattened pit. American plum is cultivated for its edible fruit
and attractive flowers, and is planted in parks and orchards. It is used
for windbreaks, wildlife plantings and erosion control because it requires
no special maintenance, is fast-growing and drought-resistant.
|
