Leaf stalks are often downy, with or without glands. Showy, white, fragrant flowers are produced with or before the leaves in spring. Fruits ripen in late August and are red or purplish, with a tough, astringent skin and juicy, yellow, edible flesh enclosing a large, flattened pit. Terminal buds are absent. Bark is thin, reddish-brown and smooth, breaking into thin, scaly plates with age.
American plum is native to eastern and midwestern North America, extending locally in the west.
It is native throughout Iowa. This species is found along fencerows, wood edges and streams. It prefers rich, deep, moist soils and is commonly found in bottomlands. It is tolerant of drought and various soil conditions. It is less susceptible to pests and diseases than many other spring-flowering trees, but black knot and tent caterpillar may occur.