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Blackthorn

Prunus spinosa

Blackthorn is a prickly shrub that grows beautiful white flowers in spring. It produces small, dark fruits called sloes that many animals love to eat!

Habitat: Woodlands

Appearance

The Blackthorn is a dense, thorny shrub with dark, almost black bark and small, oval leaves. It boasts a spectacular display of tiny, white five-petaled flowers that emerge profusely on bare branches before its leaves appear in early spring, often giving it a snowy appearance.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRosalesFamilyRosaceaeGenusPrunus
Blackthorn
deciduous trait badgeflowering trait badgeshrub trait badgespring_blooming trait badge
Blackthorn

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Blackthorn's name comes from its incredibly dark bark and sharp, black-tipped thorns.

Its super-hard wood was traditionally used to make shillelaghs, strong Irish walking sticks!

People have used its tiny, sharp thorns as pins or even for ancient tattooing!

The fruits, called sloes, are incredibly sour until a hard frost sweetens them up!

Special abilities

Ability

Spring Pioneer

Blackthorn can bloom incredibly early in spring, giving its white flowers a head start to attract the first sleepy insects.

Ability

Frosty Fruit Power

Blackthorn fruits, called sloes, get sweeter after a hard frost, making them perfect for birds to eat and spread its seeds!

Ability

Underground Network

Blackthorn can spread by sending up new shoots from its roots, forming dense, protective thickets where birds can hide.

Measurements & details

Height
100-500 cm
Spread
100-400 cm
Flower Size
1-1.5 cm
Bloom Season
Early spring
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
Mild
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

eaten by

Brown Hairstreak butterfly

Thecla betulae

larvae feed on its leaves

pollinates

European Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

visits early spring flowers for nectar

shelters

Whitethroat

Sylvia communis

nests securely within its thorny thickets

eaten by

Fieldfare

Turdus pilaris

eats ripe sloes in winter for energy

Traits

Also known as

Blackthorn BushSloe

Collections

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Be careful of the sharp thorns on the Blackthorn bush!

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Blackthorn?

100-500 cm

How wide does Blackthorn spread?

100-400 cm

How big are the flowers on Blackthorn?

1-1.5 cm

When does Blackthorn bloom?

Early spring

Is Blackthorn edible?

Yes

Is Blackthorn toxic?

Mild

What is Blackthorn's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is Blackthorn pollinated?

Insect

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