Blackthorn
Prunus spinosa
Basic Information
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Category:
- tree
- Status:
- Least Concern
- Flowering:
- March - April
Description
A thorny shrub or small tree with white spring flowers before leaves appear. The sloe fruits are used to make sloe gin and traditional liqueurs.
Habitat
Hedgerows, woodland edges, scrubland
Characteristics
- height:
- 2-4 m
- flower Color:
- White
- leaf Type:
- Deciduous, small, oval
- growth Form:
- Thorny shrub/small tree
🌿 Medicinal Uses
Flowers used as mild laxative and tonic. Berry tea traditional remedy for mouth and throat inflammations. Bark decoction used for fever.
🍽️ Culinary Uses
Sloe berries, best after frost, used for sloe gin, wines, and jams. Very astringent raw but delicious when infused in spirits. Flowers can flavor liqueurs.