Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)

Blackthorn is one of my favourite hedge plants. Unlike Hawthorn it's slow growing and freely suckering, forming impenetrable thickets. Like it, though, it makes an attractive small tree if left alone, and it has a rich and ancient mythology. It has needle like spines (hence "spinosa"), which make it a mixed blessing for hedge layers. They can hurt, and sometimes become infected. Don't plant Blackthorn trees close to a lawn or, like us, you'll have spiky suckers coming up under your feet. On the other hand, Prunus spinosa is tough as old boots, and as a hedge plant lays well and forms a good spiny stockproof - and people proof - barrier. Add to that its suckering and ability to grow in a wide range of conditions, including shade, and you can understand why it's so invaluable in hedgerows.

Value For Wildlife

Blackthorn's thorny branches and dense suckering habit makes it a fabulous refuge for small birds and mammals. They feast on its sloes, and a raft of moth and butterfly caterpillars feed on it too. Among the lepidoptera for which Blackthorn is a foodplant are the Brown Hairstreak, Black Hairstreak, Small Tortoiseshell and Short-cloaked moth. Its prolific beautiful white blossom is an important nectar source in early spring for a range of pollinators including honeybees, and contrasts visually with its near black bark to make for a lovely effect. Blackthorn turns out to be great for lichens too (see photo, of a plant on Dartmoor).

Uses

Blackthorn tree wood is hard and prized for walking sticks, and was also said to have been used for the crown of thorns. It looks particularly black against its gorgeous white spring blossom. The plant's main value for us here, however, is the sloe gin - a vital part of our Christmas! We've also made sloe jam before. The flowers are edible too, and make a tea high in vitamin C.

Plants For Sale

Like all our native trees and hedging, our Blackthorns have UK origin and provenance - that's to say they're British grown using seed from trees here. We sell 60-90cm whips in multiples of 5, and larger sizes (if available).

Supplier : Oakover Nurseries, RV Roger

See our planting and size guide for details and tips on planting Blackthorn.

These Blackthorn plants are all bare root, and are consequently available for delivery from November until March (please ask if you are interested in pot grown plants and we may be able to help). During the lifting season there may be up to two week's delay between placing the order and dispatching, due to weather conditions or pressure of orders, which are dealt with in date sequence. Orders placed for Blackthorn between March and October are confirmed for dispatch from November.