Nature Table: Blackthorn

Blackthorn is in flower at present, slightly later than usual because of the cold spring. The sprays of white blossom appear on the dark and thorny stems just before the leaves break bud. The flowers eventually develop into sloes — fruit-like small plums which are very bitter, even after they ripen to a dark purple colour in late autumn.

Infused in alcohol and sugar they make sloe gin and they can also be used for jam. Blackthorn is a native plant of the plum and cherry family which can grow to be a small tree but is often just a shrub. It’s commonest in hedgerows, though it sometimes forms small, dense groves in neglected fields. It’s an excellent hedging plant because it forms a dense stock-proof barrier if it’s trimmed regularly. It’s only disadvantage is that, like other members of this family, it’s prone to throwing up root suckers.

The timber makes excellent firewood and traditional walking sticks and shillelaghs.