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Native Plant Society of Texas

Texas Almond

Prunus minutiflora

Other common name(s):

Texas Wild Almond, Dwarf Plum

Family:

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Chihuahuan Deserts, Edwards Plateau, Southern Texas Plains
Stockton Plateau
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Semiarid Edwards Bajada

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

2
to
3
ft.

Spread

2
to
3
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Limestone, Shallow, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Fruit, Nectar, Pollen, Flowers

Wildlife Benefit

Birds, Small Mammals, Hummingbirds, Bees

Maintenance

Slow growing, small tree, rare in the wild, but is propagated commercially. Often thicket forming, so give room to spread. Good as accent tree, shrub, and wildlife plant. Susceptible to web worm. Native habitat: limestone slopes and ledges. WARNING: seeds are toxic to humans. Propagation: seed, softwood cutting.

Comments

Blooms February-May. Bark is gray with new growth on branchlets covered with woolly hairs. Leaves are oblong, with rounded to pointed tips that gradually taper at the base. Flowers are small, white, on short spurs, appearing in spring with the leaves. Male and female flowers on separate trees. Round, black fruit has a large pit.

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed Stratification Requires 2 - 3 months cold stratification and is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Sow stored seed in a cold frame as early in the year as possible. Protect the seed from mice etc. The seed can be rather slow, sometimes taking 18 months to germinate. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow them on in a greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year.. Unblemished fruit must be significantly overripe before harvesting seed; clean and dry seeds. 1) https://www.botanikks.com/plants/prunus-minutiflora-engelm/576468/1. 2) https://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Prunus+minutiflora#:~:text=The%20Reference%20Manual%20of%20Woody,M.%20W.&text=A%20very%20detailed%20book%20on,summer%20of%20the%20following%20year.&text=Layering%20in%20spring. 3) https://davesg3rden.com/guides/pf/go/81575
Offshoots Division This method is used when the plant already has an established root system. Divide the plant into halves or smaller sections using a clean and sharp knife, and plant each section in individual containers or directly into the ground. It is recommended to divide the plant in the early spring before new growth emerges. https://www.botanikks.com/plants/prunus-minutiflora-engelm/576468/1
Softwood Cutting Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting. Dip the cut end into a rooting hormone and plant into a well-draining potting mix. Rooting occurs in 4-6 weeks, and the cutting can be transplanted into a bigger container or the ground once it has rooted. Softwood cuttings are taken in spring or semi-hardwood cuttings in summer. The cuttings should be taken from the current year's growth and should be 10-15 cm long. 1) https://www.botanikks.com/plants/prunus-minutiflora-engelm/576468/1. 2) https://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Prunus+minutiflora#:~:text=The%20Reference%20Manual%20of%20Woody,M.%20W.&text=A%20very%20detailed%20book%20on,summer%20of%20the%20following%20year.&text=Layering%20in%20spring.
Seed No Treatment Seeds can be germinated for propagation in the late winter or early spring season. It is recommended to treat the seeds with a fungicide before sowing. The seeds can be sown in pots filled with a well-draining potting mix. They should be kept in a bright, warm and moist location for good germination. Germination can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Once the seedlings have grown to a sufficient size, they can be transplanted to individual containers or directly into the ground. Unblemished fruit must be significantly overripe before harvesting seed; clean and dry seeds. 1) https://www.botanikks.com/plants/prunus-minutiflora-engelm/576468/1. 2) https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/81575

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason