Osage Plum Tree

Photo:  Missouri Botanical Garden

When Meriwether Lewis spent time at the residence of Pierre Chouteau in St. Louis in the early spring of 1804, he noted two trees which he had not observed before – the Osage Apple (later renamed the Osage Orange) and the Osage Plum.

Today, we know the Osage Orange as the Hedge Apple, but learning more about the Osage Plum isn’t easy. Most likely this plum was the native wild plum tree found throughout the area – the Prunus americana. The small, deciduous, single-trunk tree or multi-stemmed shrub enjoys growing in rocky or sandy soils in woodlands, near streams and meadows throughout Missouri.

Spring flowers are followed by edible, round, red plums (about 1” in diameter) which have a pale yellow pulp. While the fruit can be eaten raw, the small plums are best used in preserves and jellies. Meriwether collected cuttings of both trees which he sent back to Mr. Jefferson.

Source: Missouri Botanical Garden

Lewis and Clark NHT Visitor Centers and Museums

This map shows a range of features associated with the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, which commemorates the 1803-1806 Lewis and Clark Expedition. The trail spans a large portion of the North American continent, from the Ohio River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon. The trail is comprised of the historic route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, an auto tour route, high potential historic sites (shown in black), visitor centers (shown in orange), and pivotal places (shown in green). These features can be selected on the map to reveal additional information. Also shown is a base map displaying state boundaries, cities, rivers, and highways. The map conveys how a significant area of the North American continent was traversed by the Lewis and Clark Expedition and indicates the many places where visitors can learn about their journey and experience the landscape through which they traveled.