Taxon Report

Prunus eremophila Prigge

Mojave Desert plum

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Prunus eremophila, commonly known as Mojave Desert plum, is a perennial deciduous shrub in the Rosaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Mojavean desert scrub, growing at elevations from 975 to 1175 meters. Prunus eremophila is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Prunus eremophila Prigge
Common Name:	Mojave Desert plum
Family:	Rosaceae
Element Code:	PDROS1C1Q0
USDA Plants Symbol:	PRER4
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial deciduous shrub
Blooming Period: Mar-Apr	Mar-Apr
Elevation:	975-1175 (3200-3855)
General Habitats:	Mojavean desert scrub
Microhabitat:	Granitic (sometimes), Washes (usually)
Microhabitat Details:	granitic or rhyolitic

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G2
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:	added to 1B on 2004-05-27

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	13
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	13

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Bernardino (SBD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Hackberry Mountain (3511512), Signal Hill (3511511)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	0
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	0	%

Notes



Known only from the Lanfair and Fenner Valleys. Potentially threatened by fire management activities, grazing and vehicles. Not in The Jepson Manual. See Madroño 49(4):285 (2002) for original description.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

CRPR List Addition on 2004-05-27

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 6 November 2025].