How to Identify an Indian Plum Plant

Indian plum can often be found growing in a lacy forest understory,

Indian plum, known botanically as Oemleria cerasiformis, is a flowering understory shrub that thrives in lacy forested lands at low elevations with significant annual rainfall. Due to their shared cultural preferences, Indian plum is often found growing alongside elderberry, red osier dogwood, stinging nettle and salal, according to the University of Washington. It can be identified by its growing location, common ambient conditions, flower and somewhat distinctive fruit.

Instructions

1. Look for Indian plum shrubs growing in the West Coast states in northern California, Washington and Oregon, as well as Vancouver, British Columbia, its natural habitat range.

2. Expect to see the plant growing west of the Cascade mountain range at low elevations where ambient temperatures remain mild and rainfall is plentiful.

3. Know that the shrubs grow primarily in the understory of lacy open forests and along roadsides, bodies of water and other disturbed, but generally moist, land.

4. Search for larger shrubs with elongated oval leaves with a rich green and shiny topside and a prominent central vein. The shrubs, when mature, range between 5 and 16 feet in height.

5. Check for small, white slightly elongated cascading flower bracts in the early to mid- spring and small white, slightly ovoid, dangling fruits in the early summer.

References

• University of Washington; Plant Data Sheet: Indian Plum (Oemleria cerasiformis); Sarah Baker; April 2003
• USDA Plant Database Profile: Oemleria cerasiformis