44 NEBRASKAland • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2015
ebraska has designated a state
bird, a state flower, a state
insect and even a state rock,
but no state wild fruit as have some
other states. North Dakota has the
chokecherry, for example, and Ohio
the pawpaw. If our legislature should
decide to bestow this title, I would
lobby hard for the American plum
(Prunus americana), often referred to
simply as the wild plum. Here are my
reasons.
This native shrub represents nearly
the entire state, being found in all but
a few Panhandle counties, and it grows
in a wide range of habitats including
woodland edges, prairies, old fields,
fence lines and road ditches. Of course,
its most vote-worthy attribute is the
delicious fruit, harvestable by the
gallon and heavenly for preserves.
I realize Sandhills jelly-makers
might rally behind the chokecherry
or sand cherry, both common in the
region and also excellent for jam and
jelly, while eastern pie-bakers might
support the Missouri gooseberry, as
cream pie made of its fruit cannot be
beat, whereas vintners might promote
the wild grape. Although these are all
worthy candidates, in my opinion, they
share a liability placing them a rank
below the plum: their fruits are too tart
or astringent to be enjoyed fresh. Some
might argue that wild raspberries and
strawberries are our finest tasting wild
fruits. I agree, but they cannot hold a
candle to the plum with regard to fruit
size, abundance and ease of picking.
The plum's thick, somewhat tart,
skin may be its only flaw – but what
candidate doesn't have a skeleton in the
closet? This issue is easily overcome
when eating the fruits fresh. I simply
pop the whole plum into my mouth,
burst it open with a bite to release the
sugary pulp and discard the unwanted
skin and pit. I know others, fond of
tartness, who eat the skin, too. Also,
when baked in pies and other desserts
the skin's sourness is overcome by the
addition of sugar.
I think my case for the American
Found nearly statewide in a variety of habitats, this
native shrub bears delicious fruit, is harvestable by the
gallon and is heavenly for jam and jelly.
The American P
A Worthy State Fruit
Story and photos by Gerry Steinauer, Botanist
AMERICAN PLUMS ripen on the bush at Peterson Wildlife Management Area in
Sioux County.
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