plums, cherries, and allies

genus Prunus

Member of rose family (family Rosaceae)
dicots (class Magnoliopsida)
flowering plants (subphylum Angiospermae)

There are no other wild species of this genus in the bay area.

Key features:

number of flowers per inflorescence (counted separately for each branch attachment, although attachments can be clustered)
leafy or leafless at base
leaf size, shape
fruit hairy or glabrous
twigs with true or false terminal bud

almond
Prunus amygdalus

1–2 flowers per cluster
ovary/fruit velvety
petals pink to nearly white
leaf blade 25–100 mm
petiole 10–25 mm
rare

peach
Prunus persica

1 flower per inflorescence (rarely 2)
ovary/fruit velvety
petals dark pink
leaf blade 70–150 mm
petiole 5–10 mm
rare
8’

cherry-plum
Prunus cerasifera

1 flower per inflorescence (rarely 2)
ovary, fruit glabrous
flowers appear before leaves (although there can be some overlap)
leaf crenate-serrate
common

pacific plum
Prunus subcordata

2–5 flowers per inflorescence
ovary, fruit glabrous
flowers appear with leaves
leaf finely serrate
less common

bitter cherry
Prunus emarginata

6–12 flowers per inflorescence
ovary, fruit glabrous
less common

hollyleaf cherry
Prunus ilicifolia

15–many flowers per inflorescence
inflorescence leafless at base
leaves evergreen, entire or spiny-serrate
common

western chokecherry
Prunus virginiana var. demissa

18–many flowers per inflorescence
inflorescence leafy at base
leaves deciduous, finely serrate
common

The remaining bay area species are single-digit rare and are not listed in Jepson.

apricot
Prunus armeniaca

wild cherry
Prunus avium

carolina laurelcherry
Prunus caroliniana

plum
Prunus domestica

cherry laurel
Prunus laurocerasus

portuguese laurel
Prunus lusitanica

Toxicity:
in general for flowering cherry (Prunus spp.):

4 – Ingestion of these plants, especially in large amounts, is expected to cause serious effects to the heart, liver, kidneys or brain. If ingested in any amount, call the poison center immediately.

chewed seeds of ornamental cherry, ornamental plum (Prunus spp.):

At least one lower-level taxon has differing toxicity.

5 observed taxons / 9 unobserved taxons / 2 keys

Chris’s observations: 34 (14 are research grade)

Locations:

Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve: 4
Stevens Creek CP: 3
Ansel Adams Wilderness: 2
Dry Creek Pioneer RP: 2
Fremont Older OSP: 2
Picchetti Ranch OSP: 2
Sweeney Ridge National Recreation Area: 2
Almaden Quicksilver CP
Alum Rock Park, San Jose
Coyote Creek Trail
Desolation Wilderness
Dimond Canyon Trail, Oakland
Hidden Villa, Los Altos Hills
Lexington Reservoir CP
Murray Ranch SP
Pinnacles NP
San Pedro Valley CP
Santa Teresa CP
Sierra Azul OSP
Sierra Vista OSP
Ulistac Natural Area, Santa Clara
Waterdog Lake & Open Space
Windy Hill OSP
Yosemite NP

Months:

Feb.: 5
Mar.: 6
Apr.: 4
May: 3
Jun.: 6
Jul.: 4
Aug.: 1
Sep.: 2
Oct.: 1
Nov.: 2

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Taxon info: iNaturalist – Calflora – Jepson eFlora – FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora