Position: Best in full sun- stands exposed sites well
Soil: Any well drained soil, acid or alkaline
Rate of growth: 40-60cm per year
Height: As a tree, eventually 4m, may be kept 1-2m with pruning
Spread: As a tree, eventually 3-4m, may be kept 1-2m with pruning
Flowers: White flowers in spring
Fruit: Edible oval blue-black fruits to 1.5cm long

Blackthorn is a tough, well-known UK native. A large deciduous shrub or small tree and a common component of country hedgerows, it is much enjoyed for its early white spring flowers in March and April, and in late summer and autumn for its dark-blue, then black, edible fruits. These are rather like miniature damsons and known as ‘sloes’, often used in making wine or flavouring gin. The plant responds well to regular cutting, forming a dense informal hedge ideal for wilder areas or naturalistic planting schemes. Prunus spinosa has dark, thorny stems bearing green oval foliage. It naturally suckers from the root and forms a shrub or small tree when left to grow naturally. Blackthorn is of high wildlife value, attractive to pollinating insects with its flowers, and to birds at nesting time and later with its fruits.

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  Pot grown

Pot grown

Image	Name	Price	Buy
	Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn Hedging) - Pot Grown, 150 to 175cm, 7.5L	£17 Exc. VAT	Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn Hedging) quantity Add to basket
	Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn Hedging) - Pot Grown, 125 to 150cm, 7.5L	£15 Exc. VAT	Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn Hedging) quantity Add to basket