Prunus spinosa | blackthorn

How to grow blackthorn for wildlife and food

Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa, is a small deciduous wild tree that can be maintained as a shrub or hedge. I have to admit, Blackthorn is a plant I wouldn’t have planted a few years ago, put off by its savage spikes, but as the years have gone on, especially since moving to our farm full of them, it has become one of my garden essentials.

Need to know information about Prunus spinosa

Blackthorn, so called for its dark black stems and vicious thorns, grows naturally all around Europe, including the UK, down to North Africa, up to Scandinavia all the way across toward Western Russia, Ukraine and Iran. So, in terms of future proofing gardens in the face of climate change, this little toughie is clearly tolerant of a wide range of conditions.

Left to grow, blackthorn will likely develop into a multistem tree about 3-4m high and wide. Its preferred location is in full sun to part-shade. You’ll see it in the wild either on its own in low growing grassland in full sun or on the edges of woodland w…