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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)

Calcareous, Dry, Limestone, Sand, Shallow

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland, Shrubland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Flowers, Fruit, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Birds, Hummingbirds, Small Mammals

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. WARNING: seeds are toxic to humans. Native habitat: dry, open grasslands and shrublands, rocky streambeds, uplands, hills, slopes, sandy brushy plains, canyons, in rock outcroppings.

Description

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

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason