Blackthorn - the first spring blossom

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) is a large shrub or small tree, named for its black bark and abundant sharp spur shoots. Its spiny nature made it an obvious choice for stock-proof hedging, and it is widespread in hedges throughout the British Isles. 

It is one of the first shrubs to flower in the spring, beaten only by the introduced cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera). The two species are often confused; the flowers of blackthorn, however, are creamy white and produced before the leaves emerge.

The fruit is the sloe, a blue-black miniature plum with a white ‘bloom’ on the surface. Sloes are incredibly astringent, even after a few sharp frosts have mellowed them, and are best prepared with sugar, either as a jam or in a bottle of gin. A red wine can also be made from them. 

Blackthorn hybridises freely with a number of related species, including the cherry plum and the bullace (Prunus domestica ssp. institia). The resulting plants are all very similar, but often have leaves present when the flowers open.

Blackthorn and all it related species are good early spring forage plants for a number of insects including ladybirds, bees and hoverflies.

All photos copyright:  Karin Alton