Depending on which taxonomy expert you consult, there are somewhere between 19 and 40 species of plum(1). "They grew wild in Europe, Asia, and North America."(2) Along with olives, figs, and grapes, they have been found in archeological sites from before the age of metals(1). Written evidence of plums is from about 479 BC with actual domestication of an Asian plum ancestor documented in China from over 2,000 years ago. Confucius thought very highly of them(3). The Chinese carved them on jade and associated them with wisdom(1). There is otherwise much contention about plum domestication in ancient times(3). Some actual domestication of some plums may well have occurred much earlier than in China and even pretty early in history(1).
"Plums were [also] grown by... the Romans and later by the Arabs."(2) As for the "European" plum, it "probably originated in the Caucasus Mountains in an area near the Caspian Sea. Some sources believe this plum was carried to Rome around 200 B.C., then north to Europe; others say that the Duke of Anjou carried the plum home as he returned from Jerusalem at the close of the Fifth Crusade (1198 to 1204) A.D." Either way, the French really caught on to European plums in both fresh and dried form(3), non-fermented dried plums being what prunes are ((the Latin name for plums is prunum; "plum" is more akin to the Old English name)(1). French migrants to Quebec brought plum pits with them, where a traveler through the area saw of as early date as 1771. British settlers of North America also brought plums along(3).
Even though there were plums native to the New World consumed by Native Americans, world production in general is mostly of "hexaploid European plum (Prunus domestica) and the diploid Japanese plum (Prunus salicina and hybrids)". Serbian plums are the third-most produced. "China is the world’s leading producer of plums accounting for about half of world production. Other major producers are Romania, Serbia, and Iran."(1)
References:
1. Admin. "Interesting facts about plums." Just Fun Facts. Just Fun Facts. Approx. 4 years ago. Web. 19 Apr. 2021. http://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-plums/.
2. Lambert, Tim. "A Brief History of Fruits." Local Histories. Tim Lambert. Updated 2021. Web. 19 Apr. 2021. http://www.localhistories.org/fruits.html.
3. "Fruit: A History of Plums." Hobby Farms. EG Media Investments LLC. Web. 19 Apr. 2021. https://www.hobbyfarms.com/fruit-a-history-of-plums/.
"Plums were [also] grown by... the Romans and later by the Arabs."(2) As for the "European" plum, it "probably originated in the Caucasus Mountains in an area near the Caspian Sea. Some sources believe this plum was carried to Rome around 200 B.C., then north to Europe; others say that the Duke of Anjou carried the plum home as he returned from Jerusalem at the close of the Fifth Crusade (1198 to 1204) A.D." Either way, the French really caught on to European plums in both fresh and dried form(3), non-fermented dried plums being what prunes are ((the Latin name for plums is prunum; "plum" is more akin to the Old English name)(1). French migrants to Quebec brought plum pits with them, where a traveler through the area saw of as early date as 1771. British settlers of North America also brought plums along(3).
Even though there were plums native to the New World consumed by Native Americans, world production in general is mostly of "hexaploid European plum (Prunus domestica) and the diploid Japanese plum (Prunus salicina and hybrids)". Serbian plums are the third-most produced. "China is the world’s leading producer of plums accounting for about half of world production. Other major producers are Romania, Serbia, and Iran."(1)
References:
1. Admin. "Interesting facts about plums." Just Fun Facts. Just Fun Facts. Approx. 4 years ago. Web. 19 Apr. 2021. http://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-plums/.
2. Lambert, Tim. "A Brief History of Fruits." Local Histories. Tim Lambert. Updated 2021. Web. 19 Apr. 2021. http://www.localhistories.org/fruits.html.
3. "Fruit: A History of Plums." Hobby Farms. EG Media Investments LLC. Web. 19 Apr. 2021. https://www.hobbyfarms.com/fruit-a-history-of-plums/.
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