Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Rosaceae ⟩ Prunus spinosa / blackthorn

Prunus spinosa L.

blackthorn (Rosaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadNegligible tendencySW
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Prunus spinosa is a very common hedgerow plant with long thorns.

Cricklade (VC7: North Wiltshire); 2009-04-11

 blackthorn / Prunus spinosa: _Prunus spinosa_ is a very common hedgerow plant with long thorns.

Prunus spinosa produces flowers before the leaf buds break.

Manchester (VC59: South Lancashire); 2007-03-31

 blackthorn / Prunus spinosa: _Prunus spinosa_ produces flowers before the leaf buds break.

The fruit of Prunus spinosa is the familiar sloe, an intensely bitter fruit used to flavour gin.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2010-08-01

 blackthorn / Prunus spinosa: The fruit of _Prunus spinosa_ is the familiar sloe, an intensely bitter fruit used to flavour gin.

A prostrate form occurs in rocky habitats near the coast.

Great Orme (VC49: Caernarvonshire); 2015-04-13

 blackthorn / Prunus spinosa: A prostrate form occurs in rocky habitats near the coast.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne