Wild Plum
Scientific name: Prunus domestica
Overview
Wild Plum is a small European hardwood species valued for its fine texture, warm coloration, and decorative grain character. Traditionally used for carving, turning, musical instruments, and specialty woodworking, the wood is especially appreciated for its smooth surface quality and rich reddish brown tones.
The wood is typically denser and more colorful than many other small fruitwoods, often displaying attractive streaking and subtle figure. Because trees generally remain small in diameter, Wild Plum is most commonly encountered in specialty woodworking rather than large scale lumber production.
Within the European hardwood cluster, Wild Plum serves as one of the more visually refined specialty fruitwoods native to Europe.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Wild Plum
- Scientific Name: Prunus domestica
- Region: European Hardwoods (Europe)
- Tree Size: 15–30 ft tall, usually small diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 46 lbs/ft³ (740 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: 1,390 lbf
- Color: Pinkish brown to reddish brown with darker streaks
- Grain: Straight to slightly irregular
- Texture: Fine and smooth
Identification Characteristics
Wild Plum is identified by its warm reddish coloration and smooth, refined texture. The wood often displays subtle streaking and occasional figure that enhance its decorative appearance.
Growth rings are usually fine and moderately visible, while the diffuse porous structure contributes to the wood’s smooth surface quality.
Key identification traits include:
- Fine and smooth texture
- Pinkish to reddish brown coloration
- Subtle darker streaking
- Diffuse porous structure
- Moderate natural luster
- Compact grain appearance
Working Properties
Wild Plum is considered an excellent specialty woodworking species for fine detail applications. Because of its smaller tree size, the species is primarily used in decorative and specialty woodworking projects.
- Machines cleanly with sharp tools
- Turns exceptionally well
- Excellent carving properties
- Sands to a polished surface
- Accepts oil finishes beautifully
- Glues reliably
- Good dimensional stability when dry
Safety Note
Wood dust from Wild Plum may cause irritation in sensitive individuals. Proper dust collection and respiratory protection are recommended during woodworking operations.
Common Uses
Wild Plum common uses including:
- Turned objects
- Wood carving
- Knife handles
- Decorative woodworking
- Musical instruments
- Small furniture accents
- Specialty boxes
- Craft woodworking
Sustainability & Notes
Wild Plum is relatively common throughout parts of Europe, though commercial lumber production remains limited because of the tree’s smaller size.
The species is valued primarily for decorative specialty woodworking rather than industrial scale applications. Highly figured or richly colored material is especially sought after by woodturners and collectors.
Like many fruitwoods, Wild Plum develops greater visual richness with age and finishing.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
European Pear – A fine textured European fruitwood commonly used for carving and decorative woodworking.
European Cherry – A larger European fruitwood known for warm reddish coloration and fine furniture applications.
Blackthorn – Another dense European specialty hardwood traditionally used for turning and craft woodworking.
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Compare Wood Properties
See how this species ranks in density and hardness using our Wood Density & Janka Hardness Chart. You can also explore Hardest Woods, Softest Woods, and Most Dense Woods for quick comparisons.
Collector Notes
Wild Plum samples should display smooth fine texture and warm reddish coloration. Dark streaking and subtle figure may become more pronounced after finishing or with age.
Collectors often value Wild Plum as an example of a traditional European fruitwood with strong decorative character despite its relatively small lumber size.
Video Overview
Share Your Photos of This Species
Do you have lumber, wood samples, tree photographs, woodworking projects, furniture, carvings, turnings, musical instruments, or other items made from this species?
Exotic Woods of the World welcomes photographs from woodworkers, collectors, sawyers, researchers, and wood enthusiasts around the world. Selected submissions may be featured on this page and throughout our website to help document and showcase real-world examples of this species.
When submitting photos, please include the common name, scientific name (if known), a brief description, and any information you would like us to share with the image.
Wood Sample Collection
This species is part of an ongoing effort to document and preserve wood samples from around the world.
Learn more about contributing to the collection:
Resources
Authoritative botanical and forestry references used in compiling information about this species include:
• USDA Forest Service – Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material
https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/products/publications/
• The Wood Database – Global reference for wood identification, physical properties, and woodworking characteristics
https://www.wood-database.com/
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Plants of the World Online – Botanical taxonomy and species distribution database
https://powo.science.kew.org/
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Red List) – Global conservation status assessments
https://www.iucnredlist.org/
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) – International trade regulations for protected plant species
https://cites.org/
Additional forestry publications, academic research papers, and regional timber studies may also be referenced where available.
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Availability & Where to Buy
Exotic hardwood availability can vary significantly depending on region, sustainability regulations, and supplier inventory.
As this archive grows, recommended suppliers and specialty wood retailers will be listed here to help woodworkers locate responsibly sourced material.
Lumber Suppliers:
Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.
Related Tools & Products:
• Gorilla All Purpose Wood Filler, Natural Finish (16 oz) for filling cracks, holes, gouges, and imperfections before sanding, staining, or painting woodworking projects
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• DEWALT DPG82 Concealer Anti-Fog Safety Goggles for protecting your eyes from sawdust, wood chips, and flying debris during cutting, sanding, and routing
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• WORKPRO Folding Roller Stand with Adjustable Height for supporting long boards, plywood, and lumber during table saw, miter saw, and woodworking operations
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