How to Identify Plum Tree Leaves

Plums grow on trees that can be identified by their leaves.

Plum trees, particularly the American Plum, bear a delicious, round, purple fruit. When you're looking at a plum tree that has ripe plums, there is no question of the tree's type. If the tree is blooming, you can tell it apart from other trees because of its small, white flowers. However, even when the tree isn't bearing fruit, or blooming, you can still identify the plum tree by identifying the plum tree leaves.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Look at the shape of the leaf. Plum tree leaves can be ovate (egg shaped), oblong (almost cylindrical), obovate (almost fan-like) or elliptical.

2. Look at the edges of the leaf. Plum tree leaves are serrated around the edges. The serrated blades are usually thin and not very sharp.

3. Feel the leaf and look at its texture. Plum tree leaves are "pubescent," which means that they look and feel smooth but hairy--a little like peach fuzz.

4. Observe the size of the leaf. Plum tree leaves are generally between 2 and 4 inches long.

5. Look at the color of the leaf. Plum tree leaves come in various colors, but the colors are usually green, chartreuse (yellow-green) or purple during the spring and summer, and yellow, orange, red or purple during the fall.

References

• Ohio Department of Natural Resources: American Plum
• U.S. Department of Agriculture: Forest Services, Prunus Cerasifera
• Tree Grower's Diary: Plum Tree Journal