Blackthorn blossom

This profuse blossom in the hedgerows near home promises a bumper crop of sloes in the autumn, and then a few bottles of sloe gin!

Prunus spinosa (blackthorn, bair or sloe) is a species of Prunus native to Europe, western Asia, and locally in northwest Africa. It is also locally naturalised in New Zealand and eastern North America.

The specific name spinosa is Latin - indicating the pointed and thornlike spur shoots characteristic of this species.

The common name "blackthorn" derives from the thorny nature of the shrub, and its very dark bark. The wood of the shrub is traditionally and widely used in Ireland for making walking sticks and clubs.

The word commonly used for the fruit, "sloe" comes from Old English slāh.