Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)

Our range of Blackthorn bare root plants (Prunus spinosa)

We have Blackthorn bare root hedging plants in several specifications and heights.  The 1+0 specification plants are seedlings (often called whips) which were grown from seed sown in the spring and are sold during the following November to April months ie they are 1 year old.  We have Blackthorn whips in several heights.

We also have Blackthorn transplants (1+1) which began as a one year old whip (grown from seed in one growing season) and are then planted back out for one more growing season in a different area of our fields at lower density to give each plant more space, nutrients and water.

All of these plants are grown by us in Herefordshire.

Blackthorn is a very important species for us (second only to hawthorn) so we always have several batches of seed including UK provenance and the highest quality imported seed, so if the seed provenance is important to you, please give us a call so that we can allocate plants from the best batch for your needs.

In addition, we have cell grown Blackthorn which are grown by one of the UK's best specialist growers and these can be planted all year round.

You can read more about the specifications we offer on the tab just below the pricing table to the right of this product description or on this blog about the specifications of bare root plants.

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) Summary

Blackthorn is the first of the native farm hedging species to burst into flower in late March/April, before its leaves open, and its autumn fruit (called “sloes”) are blue black coloured berries which are added to gin to make sloe gin.  Spiny, woody stems make an excellent livestock proof hedge (second only to Hawthorn) and it is suited to moist soils as well as normal soils. As well as being a staple of farm hedgerows all across Britain it is also sometimes found as a small shrubby tree in woodland settings or scrub land.

It puts out suckers so that gradually, over the years, it will spread in width to make a completely impenetrable hedge but you can mow off or dig out the suckers if you do not want it to spread. Cattle browsing will contain sucker growth but it is less suitable for arable fields or horse paddocks.

It is the second most popular native hedging species (second only to Hawthorn) with enormous wildlife value with over 150 different types of insects feeding and living on it which then feed birds.

Soil and Situation

Preferring full sunlight, Blackthorn does well on wetter, well drained (not waterlogged) soils and is often found in woodlands, copses, scrub land and is a very common component in mixed native hedgerows.  It is hardy and can withstand salt-laden, windy conditions so can be used in coastal situations. It can also be used as a single species hedge as shown in our photograph.  A mature Blackthorn hedge can become very wide and impenetrable which is terrific protection for wildlife.

Leaves, flowers and fruit

The leaves are small, dark green, a narrow oval shape, finely toothed and only appear after the flowers have finished.  Leaves are a food source for moths (including the Emperor Moth and Black Hairstreak) and butterflies and birds feast on their caterpillars.  Blackthorn has spines at the end of branches so that birds, but not cows, can get at the ripened sloe berries.  The thorns are very aggressive so it is not recommended for children's play areas or beside a footpath.

Flowering is profuse – a cloud-like smothering over the whole bush (especially if it has not been trimmed in the previous autumn because it flowers on old wood).  Fruit develops from pollinated flowers and by late September its bitter blue/black berries (the size of eating blueberries) which are pricked with a skewer and then soaked in gin and sugar to produce sloe gin. Don’t wait for sloes to ripen – they will always be hard when picked and you have to get to them before the birds.

The bark is smooth and dark grey-brown.  Blackthorn is used to make walking sticks because the young wood is straight, hard, smooth and has an attractive black/maroon sheen. It is used to make the authentic sail eille (translated to shillelagh in English), which are the Irish folklore walking sticks and it is thought that Parliament's Black Rod's knocking stick is made of blackthorn too.

Eventual height and growth rate

Mature height is about 5m but Blackthorn is easy to keep trimmed to a hedging height of 2-3m and takes well to hedge laying.  Growth rate is average (about 40cm pa).

Blackthorn is one of the main components in mixed native hedging - often being swapped for Hawthorn for wetter soils. it is one of the cheapest plants we grow so you can reduce the cost of mixed hedging by increasing the proportion of Blackthorn and reducing the proportion of the additional species (like field maple or dog rose) that are more expensive (but take care if you are using a Countryside Stewardship Grant to make sure sufficient species are being used in the expected proportions).

Uses of Blackthorn

Blackthorn is used a great deal in mixed hedging (especially conservation hedging and livestock-proof hedging) and as a woodland shrub and it is especially good as a cover for game birds.  It suckers from below ground so hedging incorporating a high proportion of blackthorn is always dense at the base.  The sloes are made into slow gin. The branches are popular with walking stick makers.  Prunings can be used as firewood.

This section gives definitions on the specifications of plants that we sell.  We are specialists in field grown (or bare root) plants which are grown in two ways.  The majority are grown from seed, some are ready within one growing season (seedlings or 1+0's) and some species require two growing seasons (1u1's).  In addition to growing from seed we also grow from small plants or cuttings (transplants) which are much more widely spaced (taking more land, more irrigation water, fertilisers and labour).  There are only a handful of bare root wholesale nurseries in the UK and of those even fewer grow transplants but Ray Jenkins has many years' experience of transplanting so we grow these in large volumes.  Ray has written this blog about the benefits of bare root plants and how they are grown and another blog which gives further detail on bare root specifications.

The detailed specifications are shown below.  If you are in doubt about what specification to use please email us on enquiries@rjtreesandhedging.co.uk with a description of the project (and photos if appropriate) and we will advise you.

1+0 - field grown in one season from seed, known as a seedling (sometimes called a whip), generally a slender single stem plant.   These are the cheapest specification and are particularly suitable for planting where weed competition will be less intense, soil is shallow or on exposed windy sites.  Gives a high root to shoot ratio and minimal plant "check".

2+0 - a 2 year seedling, field grown from seed in the same seed bed in two growing seasons where the species cannot be grown to a saleable plant from seed in one season

1U1 - 2 year old plant called an undercut, field grown for two seasons in the same seed bed and undercut by machine (a sharp blade cutting the roots under the soil level) after the first year to develop the root structure. We do this with several species which take 2 years to develop (eg oak, beech, hornbeam)

1+1 - 2 year old plant (transplant) grown from seed in the first year and then transplanted into a different area of the field and spaced out for the second growing season - a robust plant with a larger and more robust root system than seedling or undercut plant which will enable it to better withstand drought and weed competition. Often the best choice and the staple norm for farm hedging and this specification is a requirement of the Countryside Stewardship Grant

1+2- a 3 year old plant, two years field growing in the seedbed and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further two growing seasons giving a tall, stocky, bushy plant

2+1- a 3 year old plant, two years field growing in the seedbed and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further growing season, giving a strong bushy plant

3+1 - as above but field grown for a further growing season for more height and a very bushy plant

1+3- 4 year old, one year field growing in the seed beds and then transplanted (and spaced out) for three years, giving a very strong, bushy plant

2+2- 4 year old, two years field growing in the seed beds and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further two years - a very mature plant suited to certain species like beech and hornbeam where we can offer almost instant hedging

and some that are a bit different.....

P9 - a plant grown in a greenhouse or polytunnel in a 9cm pot (for holly which germinates poorly in the field)

Cell grown - a plant grown in small deep cells (like a small yogurt pot) and then lifted out of those for transportation. Commonly used in forestry and large hedging projects.  Very high quality plants with excellent success rate.  See our blog on the benefits of cell grown plants.

C+1 or C+2 - a 3 or 4 year old plant initally started as hardwood cuttings grown on for a year as cell grown plants and then lined out in fields to grow on for a further 1 or 2 years (a technique used for Cherry Laurel)

0/1 - a hardwood cutting, then field grown for one season (for example for white willow, black poplar and osier)