Blackthorn

Prunus spinosa is commonly known as Blackthorn or Sloe. This species originates from Europe, western Asia, and northwest Africa. This big-sized shrub or small tree grows up to 5 m long, with black-shaded bark and rich spiny branches. It produces oval leaves that are serrate-margined.

The 5-petal- creamy-white blooms are about 1.5 cm across; they emerge before the foliage in the early springtime. They are typically followed by fruit, named a "sloe". This drupe is 10–12 mm across; it comes in black color with purplish-blue waxy blossom. It ripens in the fall and gathered after the first frosty days- usually in November- December.

 The Blackthorn’s fruit fits for preserves. In east Europe it is frozen prior consuming. In rural Britain people made sloe gin from them. In Navarre Spanish love liqueur called patxaran which is also made with sloes.

Blackthorn is greatly grown to serve as hedge or covering plant.