Home : Hedging, Trees, Shrubs & Conifers : Hedging, Trees, Shrubs & Conifers A-B : BLACKTHORN Prunus spinosa, Sloe Suitable for any normal soil and position and the following  Ultimate Height 13ft (4m) Exposed/Windy Hedge Height 3-10ft (0.9-3m) Damp Shade Av. Growth/Year* 1ft (30cm) Dry Shade Wet Sites Native Coastal Areas Evergreen Chalky Soil   Av. Growth/Year* = Average growth per year in first 10-20 years, click here for more details.	Enlarge picture / more pictures Masses of white flowers on black stems in March.
Dense, prickly, native, deciduous plant with new shoots finely downy becoming smooth by winter, purple in sun or green in shade. Many side shoots end with vicious thorns. Masses of snow-white flowers appear in March before the leaves. These are followed by sloes which turn from purple to black in autumn and remain intensely sour into the winter. Any soil, but will thrive on quite poor soil and also heavy soils. HEDGE Trim as necessary. For hedges 3-10ft (0.9-3m). Plant 18ins (45cm) apart. TREE/SHRUB 13ft x 10ft (4m x 3m) in 20 years, ultimate height 13ft (4m).
Price per plant for Availability 1+ 5+ 50+ 250+  Sd  16-24ins 40-60cm £1.29 £0.83 £0.74 £0.63 Bare rooted stock will be available from Nov., see below/right.  Sd  2-3ft 60-90cm £1.39 £0.89 £0.78 £0.69 Bare rooted stock will be available from Nov., see below/right.  Tr  2-3ft 60-90cm £1.99 £1.49 £1.38 £1.19 Bare rooted stock will be available from Nov., see below/right.  Tr  3-4ft 90-120cm £2.99 £2.59 £2.40 £2.07 Bare rooted stock will be available from Nov., see below/right.  Cg  8-24ins 20-60cm £13.45 £12.55 £11.65 - In Stock.	Tr = Transplanted, click here for more details. Sd = Bare rooted seedling. Pg = Pot grown. Cg = Bundle of 10 cell-grown plants, click here for more details.   We can only sell bare-rooted plants when they are dormant. This is later this year than normal due to the mild weather.