Plant Details

Prunus spinosa

Blackthorn

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Common names

63 names · 38 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (37)
Dutch
  • Sleedoorn[1]
  • Zwarte doorn
French
  • Prunellier[1]
  • Épine noire[1]
Arabic
  • برقوق السياج[1]
  • خوخ شوكي[1]
  • قراصية[1]
Armenian
  • Մամուխ[1]
Asturian
Basque
  • Elorri beltza[1]
Bulgarian
  • Трънка[1]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
Czech
  • slivoň trnka[1]
  • trnka obecná[1]
Danish
Estonian
Finnish
Galician
  • Abruñeiro[1]
German
  • Heckendorn[1]
  • Sauerpflaume[1]
  • Schlehdorn[1]
+3 more namesShow fewer names
Greek
  • Αγριοδαμάσκηνο[1]
  • Αγριοκορομηλιά[1]
  • Μαμουσιά[1]
+3 more namesShow fewer names
  • Μπλε βούρβαλο[1]
  • Προύνος ο ακανθώδης[1]
  • Τσαπουρνιά[1]
Hebrew
  • שזיף בר צפוני[1]
Hungarian
Irish
Italian
  • Ciliegio canino[1]
  • Prugno spinoso[1]
  • Prugnolo[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Strozzapreti[1]
Latvian
  • Ērkšķu plūme[1]
Lithuanian
  • Dygioji Slyva[1]
Norwegian
  • slåpetorn[1]
Polish
  • Śliwa tarnina[1]
Portuguese
  • Abrunheiro-bravo[1]
Romanian
Russian
  • Слива колючая[1]
  • Терновник[1]
  • Тёрн[1]
Serbian
  • Трњина[1]
Slovak
  • slivka trnková[1]
Slovenian
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish
  • Güvem Eriği[1]
  • çakal eriği[1]
Ukrainian
  • Терен колючий[1]
Welsh
  • Draenen ddu[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Prunus spinosa — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Blackthorn — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Sleedoorn — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Sloe — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Schlehdorn — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Schwarzdorn — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Schlehe — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Schlehendorn — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Heckendorn — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Abrunheiro-bravo — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Aranyoner — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Prugnolo — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Prunellier — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Épine noire — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • שזיף בר צפוני — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Тёрн — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Slån — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • slivoň trnka — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Προύνος ο ακανθώδης — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Slåen — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • endrino — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • laukapuu — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Prunal — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • trnka obecná — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • slåpetorn — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Ciliegio canino — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Strozzapreti — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Prugno spinoso — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Dygioji Slyva — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • oratuomi — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • خوخ شوكي — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Śliwa tarnina — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • قراصية — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • برقوق السياج — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • slivka trnková — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Трънка — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Trnjina — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Trnina — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Crni trn — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • 黑刺李 — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Слива колючая — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Abruñeiro — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Τσαπουρνιά — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Μαμουσιά — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Αγριοκορομηλιά — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Αγριοδαμάσκηνο — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Μπλε βούρβαλο — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • 黑刺李 — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Մամուխ — results[0].names[48]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • çakal eriği — results[0].names[49]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Porumbar — results[0].names[50]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Терен колючий — results[0].names[51]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Scayu negral — results[0].names[52]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Kökény — results[0].names[53]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Črni trn — results[0].names[54]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Ērkšķu plūme — results[0].names[55]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Draighean — results[0].names[56]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Терновник — results[0].names[57]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Draenen ddu — results[0].names[58]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Трњина — results[0].names[59]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Elorri beltza — results[0].names[60]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Güvem Eriği — results[0].names[61]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.
  • Sauerpflaume — results[0].names[62]; taxon id 55811; Prunus spinosa.

General information

Scientific name: Prunus spinosa
Accepted name (Kew): Prunus spinosa L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Rosaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Prunus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Blackthorn
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree, Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 3.00 m
Spread: 3.00 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Deciduous

Leaf retention described in the New England flora.

Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4-8
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Flowers, Seed
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Cosmetic use, Dye, Hedge, Pioneer species, Wood, Bee forage, Carbon farming

Description

The fruits of this plant can be eaten either raw or cooked. Normally, they are cooked due to their very sour taste, but once the fruits have been frozen, they lose some of their astringent properties, making it possible for some people to enjoy them raw. These fruits are often used to make jelly, syrups, and other preserves, and are also used as a flavoring for, for example, sloe gin and various liqueurs. In France, unripe fruits are pickled like olives. The fruits are about 15 mm in diameter and contain a large seed, which can be eaten both raw and cooked. However, the seed should not be eaten if it is too bitter, due to possible toxicity. The leaves of this plant are used as a coffee substitute, and the dried fruits can be used to make herbal tea. The edible flowers can be crystallized or sweetened and added to dishes.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/08
Harvest ends: 31/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 343710; name ID 2958711; Prunus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 832770; name ID 2921969; Prunus spinosa L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Native Plant Trust; Go Botany Prunus spinosa — Go Botany
    Supports: Foliage
    Relevant sections
    • Foliage: Leaf duration

    Source checked on .