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American plum flowers first appear before or at leaf emergence; they occur in roughly spherical clusters (umbels) of two to five flowers, arising from leaf axils. Each flower is ~1" across, held away from the twig at the base of the umbel on 1/2-1" petioles; there are five egg-shaped petals with narrow bases, white with a touch of pink, five narrow, somewhat fleshy, green sepals much shorter than the petals, a single style, and numerous (10-30) stamens with tan anthers. The fruits are about 1" across, initially green but turning reddish-purple with the waxy bloom typical of plums when ripe; inside is a single seed (a "stone," like a peach). Because this tree usually flowers when the leaves are only beginning to open, it produces an especially showy display. It is widespread across Jackson Park.

Prunus

Prunus americana

American plum [Blooms: Apr-May]