Prunus spinosa Walter

Blackthorn


Species recognized by KL Wilson and WG Berendsohn (eds), IOPI Global Plant Checklist external link in 
IUCN Red List Status: NOT EVALUATED external link Switch to common names

Media Center Navigation


Prunus spinosa Walter

Images



Choose images

Prunus spinosa Prunus spinosa Prunus spinosa Prunus spinosa Prunus spinosa Prunus spinosa Prunus spinosa Prunus spinosa Prunus spinosa

Page navigation

Page 1 Next






Classification : Text | Graphic |

Table Of Contents


Description

Source and Additional Information

Blackthorn is a deciduous shrub that has long been popular in hedgerows because of its thorns (4). The beautiful white blossom tends to appear early in the year before the leaves, often in a very cold period following a false spring. These cold snaps are widely known as 'blackthorn winters' (4). Blackthorn is related to the plums. The bitter fruits it produces are known as sloes, and are used to make sloe gin (4). They are bluish-black in colour and often have a whitish bloom. The flesh is green and there is a single stone inside (2).