What soil does Blackthorn grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous.

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Blackthorn be planted?

Plant it at least 4 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How far apart should Blackthorn be planted?

Planted on its own, it needs 1.5 m between plants. For a hedge, allow 3 plants per metre.

When does Blackthorn flower?

Flowering: March–April, white.

How much water does Blackthorn need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

Blackthorn

Prunus spinosa

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) is a shrub. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Toxic to dogs and cats.

Illustration of Blackthorn — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A native, very thorny shrub that is covered in white blossom in early spring before the leaves, and one of the best wildlife hedges: impenetrable, early food for pollinators and nesting cover for birds. The bloomy blue, sour sloes are best picked after the first frosts for jam, syrup, spirits or sloe gin; for a good crop plant several bushes near each other. It spreads strongly by root suckers into a thicket, so next to a bed or lawn in a small garden only plant it if you mow off the suckers regularly or put in a root barrier.

Watch out for

Root suckers come up metres from the plant and within a few years form a dense thicket. Keep it in check by regular mowing along the edge, by pulling the suckers off at their base, or with a root barrier at least 50 cm deep; do not plant it along a neighbour's fence without these. The long, sharp thorns cause deep puncture wounds, so prune only in thick gloves, and cut branches puncture bicycle and wheelbarrow tyres. It shares the pests and diseases of plums: blossom wilt, pocket plum that deforms the fruit, aphids, and it is a host of plum pox virus, so do not plant it right next to plum, apricot or peach trees.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Low
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 3 m × 2.5 m
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D March–April, white

All details

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	3 m × 2.5 m
Ultimate size	2–6 m × 2–6 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	March–April, white
Harvest	September–November
Self-fertile	no
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	yes
Spreading	High
Distance from buildings	at least 4 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	Fruit
Planting distance	150 cm
For dogs	Toxic
For cats	Toxic
For children	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 17, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Shrubs for part shade Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant shrubs Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Hedge plants Plants for screening Shrubs for pollinators Flowering shrubs Plants with edible fruit Edible plants for screening

Guide on the topic

Fast-growing hedges: how much each grows in a year The fastest hedge plant is the Leyland cypress, growing about 90 cm a year, followed by cherry laurel 'Novita', firethorn and western red cedar at about 50 cm a year, then privet at 40 cm. How long a 180 cm hedge takes to screen depends more on the size of plant you buy: several years from small plants, one or two summers from large ones, but at many times the price per metre. The tables use the current shop prices in your country.

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