Plum | Description, Uses, Cultivation, History, & Facts

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class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/plum">plum</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/plant/plum">Introduction</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref351169"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/plant/plum#ref351169">Physical description</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref351170"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/plant/plum#ref351170">History and cultivation</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/plum/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/plum">Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/plum/images-videos">Images</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/115271-050-3EEF6DFD/Plums-tree.jpg" data-href="/media/1/465013/111461" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/115271-004-1F01236C/Plums-tree.jpg" alt="plum" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/83/160083-050-8EA96BDD/plums-prunes.jpg" data-href="/media/1/465013/197118" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/83/160083-004-3F287994/plums-prunes.jpg" alt="prune" height="50" /> </a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-related-quizzes"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold 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justify-content-between"> <div class="d-flex flex-column"> <div> <div> <h1>plum</h1></div> </div> <div class="topic-identifier font-16 font-md-20">plant and fruit</div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none d-sm-flex flex-row"> <div class="mr-10 mb-15"> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="d-none d-sm-block md-topic-tools qa-action-buttons mb-15" data-topic-id="465013"> <button class="js-tooltip btn btn-sm btn-outline-blue border pr-10 border-2" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="more_vert"></em> More Actions </button> <div class="md-more-popover popover popover-sm p-0 font-14 z-1"> <div> <button class="js-print-modal-button js-modal gtm-topic-tool btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=465013] .md-print-modal" > <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/fruit/plums/grow-your-own" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Royal Horticultural Society - How to grow Plums</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3722408/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Plum pomaces as a potential source of dietary fibre: composition and antioxidant properties</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS250" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">University of Florida - IFAS Extesion - Growing Plums in Florida</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/plums-in-the-home-garden" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Utah State University - Yard and Garden Extension - Plums in the Home Garden</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://quod.lib.umich.edu/d/did/did2222.0002.321/--plum-tree?rgn=main;view=fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">University of Michigan Library Digital Collection - The Encyclopedia of Diderot & d'Alembert Collaborative Translation Project - Plum tree</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-plums-prunes" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Healthline - 7 Health Benefits of Plums and Prunes</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/plum/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Clemson Cooperative Extension - Home and Garden Information Center - Plum</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.uky.edu/ccd/sites/www.uky.edu.ccd/files/plums.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">University of Kentucky - College of Agriculture, Food and Environment - Plums</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/benefits-plums" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">WebMD - Plum</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1518&title=home-garden-plums" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">University of Georgia Extension - Home Garden Plums</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.verywellfit.com/plums-nutrition-facts-calories-and-their-health-benefits-4114424" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Verywell Fit - Plum Nutrition Facts</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://homegarden.cahnr.uconn.edu/factsheets/plums/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">University of Connecticut - College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources - Home and Garden Education Center - Plums</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.medicinenet.com/what_is_the_benefit_of_eating_plums/article.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">MedicineNet - What is the Benefit of Eating Plums? 11 Health Benefits</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://journal.pan.olsztyn.pl/pdf-98156-30871?filename=CHARACTERISTICS%20OF%20PLUMS.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Polish Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences - Characterstics of Plums as a Raw Material with Valuable Nutritive and Dietary Properties - A Review</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/plum/353641" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plum - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/plum/276467" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plum - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written and fact-checked by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-11-22T00:00:00CST" >Nov 22, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/plum/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Related Topics: </dt> <dd><a href="/science/black-knot" topicid="67975">black knot</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/prune" topicid="480851">prune</a></dd> <dd><a href="/plant/Damson-plum" topicid="150652">Damson plum</a></dd> <dd><a href="/plant/Japanese-plum" topicid="2146613">Japanese plum</a></dd> <dd><a href="/plant/common-European-plum" topicid="128272">common European plum</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>On the Web: </dt> <dd><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3722408/" target="_blank">National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Plum pomaces as a potential source of dietary fibre: composition and antioxidant properties</a> (Nov. 22, 2024)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/plum"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref103036"></span>plum</strong>, any of various <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/tree" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">trees</a> or shrubs in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/genus-taxon" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">genus</a> <em><a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/Prunus" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Prunus</a></em> and their <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="edible" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/edible" data-type="EB">edible</a> fruits. Plums are closely related to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/peach" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">peaches</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/cherry" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">cherries</a> and are widely eaten fresh as a dessert <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/fruit-plant-reproductive-body" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">fruit</a>, cooked as compote or jam, or baked in a variety of pastries. The <span id="ref103037"></span>European plum (<em>P. domestica</em>) and the <span id="ref1268997"></span>Japanese plum (<em>P. salicina</em>) are grown commercially for their fruits, and a number of species, including the <span id="ref1268998"></span>purple-leaf plum (<em>P. cerasifera</em>), are used as ornamental plants for their attractive flowers and leaves.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="197118" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/83/160083-050-8EA96BDD/plums-prunes.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/465013/197118"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/83/160083-050-8EA96BDD/plums-prunes.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/83/160083-050-8EA96BDD/plums-prunes.jpg?w=300" alt="prune" data-width="800" data-height="543" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/83/160083-050-8EA96BDD/plums-prunes.jpg" data-href="/media/1/465013/197118">prune</a><span>Dried plums (<em>Prunus domestica</em>), commonly known as prunes.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Plum varieties that can be dried without resulting in fermentation are called <span id="ref103040"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/prune" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">prunes</a>. Such plums have firm flesh and contain high levels of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/sugar-chemical-compound" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">sugar</a>, qualities that favor their being preserved by drying, which is <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="done" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/done" data-type="EB">done</a> in dehydrators or under the sun.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref351169"> <h2 class="h1">Physical description</h2> <div class="feature-block callout"><div class="font-weight-bold">Taxonomy</div><ul class="list-none "><li><div>Kingdom: <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/plant" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Plantae</a></div></li><li><div>Clade: <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/angiosperm" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Angiosperm</a></div></li><li><div>Order: <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/Rosales" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Rosales</a></div></li><li><div>Family: <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/Rosaceae" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Rosaceae</a></div></li><li><div>Genus: <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/Prunus" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true"><em>Prunus</em></a></div></li></ul><p class="topic-paragraph"><em>See also</em> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-plants-in-the-family-Rosaceae-2001612" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">list of plants in the family Rosaceae</a></p></div> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Trees of some plum species reach a height from 6 to 10 meters (20 to 33 feet), while others are much smaller; some species are small shrubs with drooping branches. The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/flower" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">flower</a> buds on most varieties are borne on short spurs or along the terminal shoots of the main branches. Each <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/bud" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">bud</a> may contain from one to five <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/flower" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">flowers</a>, two or three being most common, and often give an appearance of densely packed, showy flower clusters when the trees are in full bloom. Each flower features a hollow cuplike structure known as the hypanthium, which bears the sepals, petals, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/stamen" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">stamens</a> on the outer rim and surrounds a single <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/pistil" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">pistil</a>. After fertilization the hypanthium and its attachments fall off, leaving the ovary to develop into a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/drupe" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">drupe</a> fruit. As the fruit grows, the outer part ripens into a fleshy juicy exterior, and the inner part forms the stone, or pit, which encloses the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/seed-plant-reproductive-part" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">seed</a>. The fruits show a wide range of size, flavor, color, and texture. As trees come into bearing, they do not require much pruning and can be grown satisfactorily in a home fruit garden if <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/plant-disease" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">diseases</a> and pests are controlled.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/fruit-or-vegetable-a-quiz" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/35/245035-131-0C09D257/red-and-yellow-cherry-tomatoes.jpg" alt="Red and yellow cherry tomatoes, some forming a question mark, against a light blue background. (organic, fruits, vegetables)" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Fruit or Vegetable? A Quiz</div> </div> </a><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker h3"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref351170"> <h2 class="h1">History and cultivation</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Plums are widely <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="cultivated" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cultivated" data-type="MW">cultivated</a> throughout the world, and many varieties are adapted to a range of soils and climatic conditions. The common European plum (<em>P. domestica</em>) probably originated in the region around the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Caucasus" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Caucasus</a> and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Caspian-Sea" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Caspian Sea</a> and is at least 2,000 years old. Another Old World plum species, probably of European or Asiatic origin, is the <span id="ref103038"></span>Damson plum (<em>P. insititia</em>); ancient writings connect early cultivation of those plums with the region around <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Damascus" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Damascus</a>. The Japanese plum was first domesticated in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/China" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">China</a> thousands of years ago but was extensively developed in Japan; from there it was introduced to the rest of the world. Japanese plums have a longer shelf-life than most European varieties and are thus the most common fresh plum sold commercially.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</a></span> <span class="md-signature">This article was most recently revised and updated by <a href="/editor/Melissa-Petruzzello/9400228">Melissa Petruzzello</a>.</span><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":465013,"pageLength":451,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"MEDIUM","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Plum | Description, Uses, Cultivation, History, & Facts | Britannica