Beach plum

Prunus maritima

Family: Rosaceae

Pet & Human Safety

Toxic to people and pets

Human edibility

Not researched

Edible parts

Not yet checked.

Hazardous parts

seeds (pits)

Preparation

USDA NRCS says the pits contain cyanide and may be toxic if eaten; it describes no preparation step. Do not eat the pits.

Hazard type

hydrocyanic acid (cyanide)

Hazard route

ingestion

How complete this information is

The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets

Carried from the plum genus, not a page for beach plum: ASPCA lists plum (Prunus domestica) as toxic to dogs, cats and horses (cyanogenic glycosides; stems, leaves and seeds contain cyanide, worst when wilting). USDA NRCS says beach plum foliage contains hydrocyanic acid and may be lethal if livestock eat it, and that the seeds (pits) contain hydrocyanic acid and may be toxic if eaten. NRCS names livestock, not cats and dogs. USDA NRCS: beach plum pits contain cyanide and may be toxic if eaten, and the foliage may be lethal to livestock.

Look-alike warning

Could be mistaken for Plants that share its name. To tell them apart: 'Sand plum' is also a name for Chickasaw plum (Prunus angustifolia) in USDA NRCS's alternate-name lists, and 'plum' names many Prunus species; use the Latin name..

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones: USDA 3a to 8a (USDA NRCS). Florida is outside this range.
Water needs: USDA NRCS: beach plum 'can produce an abundant crop without irrigation', and a study it cites (Uva and Whitlow, 2007) found no benefit from irrigation.
Mature size: Typically 3 to 8 ft tall in the wild; up to 18 ft under ideal care; thickets up to 20 ft across (NRCS). Spacing: USDA NRCS (orchard plantings): larger shrubs pruned individually about 10 ft apart, or smaller shrubs 3 to 5 ft apart as a hedgerow; rows usually 12 to 16 ft apart. NRCS also says beach plum suckers strongly and may spread undesirably if not controlled.

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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