Beach Plum

Beach Plum (Prunus maritima)

In late April and early May, brilliant clusters of white blossoms appear on shrubs that dot the sand dunes.These are the flowers of the native beach plum. This shrub grows 4 ft. to 7 ft. tall on the seashore and up to 12 ft. inland. After pollination, the flowers, which measure about ½ inch across and have very hairy stalks, turn pinkish in color. Later, the blossoms develop into small fruits which ripen into deep purple plums in late August, providing a rich food source for wildlife.