Prunus spinosa L. Sloe or Blackthorn
A deciduous prickly shrub or small tree, native to Europe (including Britain) and N. Asia, cultivated and naturalised in eastern
N. America. Its fruits are gathered from hedgerows and may be used to colour and flavour gin. The wood has been used for the teeth of hay rakes. Height to 4.5m (15ft) as a shrub but may be 6m (20ft) as a tree. Flowers open before the leaves in March or early April, about 1.2cm (½in) or more across. Fruits are about 1.2cm (½in) across and have a strongly astringent taste. Leaves are small with pointed teeth and hairs on the main vein beneath. Twigs bear hard sharp spines. Zone 4