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Plant Profile

Scrub Plum (Prunus geniculata)

The white, 5-petaled flowers of this species are characteristic of species in the Rose family. Photo Credit: © Steve Shirah

Global Rank: G3 - Vulnerable
Legal Status: Federally Endangered
Family: Rosaceae
State: FL
Nature Serve ID: 137792
Lifeform: Shrub
Date Inducted in National Collection: 06/18/1986

Description:

Scrub plum (Prunus geniculata) is a woody shrub restricted to xeric upland habitats on the Lake Wales Ridge of Central Florida. It is a member of the rose family (the Rosaceae) which includes peaches, cherries, apricots, almonds and...roses. Scrub plum is very drought tolerant, with small leaves that conserve water and a fibrous root system that can extract moisture from the well-drained soils. Scrub plum is also adapted to the fire ecology of the Ridge sandhill and scrub habitats, resprouting from the roots after a fire. Scrub plum's overall appearance has been likened to plants found in a Japanese garden. It has a low rounded form, generally growing to 3 to 4 feet tall. Its trunk is gnarled, and partly buried in sand. Older plants are distinguished by graying bark covered with lichens. The name geniculata describes scrub plum's zigzag branches, formed by twigs angled at each node. These angles are like bent knees, "geniculate". Each twig usually ends in a stout spine. In late summer, plants lose most of their leaves, fully exposing scrub plums "bent knees". In February and March, delicate white flowers with yellow stamens sprout from skeletal branches. Fine toothed leaves develop later, after the plants have begun to set fruit. The miniature plums develop in April and May, ripening to a soft reddish purple. The fruits and the seeds they contain are a treat to wildlife. Scrub plums seedlings are hard to find in the wild, perhaps because the seeds are such delectable treats.

Where is Scrub Plum (Prunus geniculata) located in the wild?

Habitat:

It occurs on both white and yellow sands in sandhills and scrub habitats.

Distribution:

Scrub plum is restricted to xeric upland habitats on the Lake Wales Ridge in Highlands, Polk, Lake, Osceola, and Orange Counties.

States & Provinces:

Scrub Plum can be found in Florida

Which CPC Partners conserve Scrub Plum (Prunus geniculata)?

Bok Tower Gardens

Conservation Actions

Tina Stanley

05/11/2023

According to a March 2023 extract of the Florida Plant Rescue Database, Bok Tower Gardens holds 10 accessions of Prunus geniculata totalling approximately 5509 seeds.

09/23/2020

Scrub plum is andromonoecious, a rare plant breeding system characterized by the presence of male and perfect flowers on the same individual (Weekley et al. in prep.).

09/23/2020

An ex situ population is maintained at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida.

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

A Florida endemic with 114 known occurrences, scattered along the Central Ridge. This species has low abundance and a restricted range due to development pressure in Central Florida.

Carl W. Weekley

01/01/2010

Habitat destruction Fire suppression Predation of seeds

Carl W. Weekley

01/01/2010

80+ sites; about 12 protected sites in Highlands, Polk and Orange Counties.

Carl W. Weekley

01/01/2010

Research is currently being conducted on the demography, reproductive biology and breeding system of scrub plum (Weekley and Menges 2001). Scrub plum is andromonoecious, a rare plant breeding system characterized by the presence of male and perfect flowers on the same individual (Weekley et al. in prep.).

Carl W. Weekley

01/01/2010

Scrub plum is managed with prescribed fire at about a dozen protected sites (e.g., Tiger Creek Preserve, Lake Wales Ridge State Forest, Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge, Carter Creek Scrub).

Carl W. Weekley

01/01/2010

We need to better understand the reproductive biology and seed ecology of scrub plum.

Carl W. Weekley

01/01/2010

An ex situ population is maintained at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida.