Prunus spinosa L.
Prunus spinosa
Prunus spinosa, commonly known as blackthorn or sloe, is a deciduous shrub or small tree that can grow up to 5-6 meters tall. It has blackish bark and dense, stiff, spiny branches. The leaves are oval, 2-4.5 cm long and 1.2-2 cm broad, with a serrated margin. The flowers are about 1.5 cm in diameter, with five creamy-white petals and are produced shortly before the leaves in early spring. The fruit, known as a sloe, is a drupe 10-12 mm in diameter, black with a purple-blue waxy bloom, ripening in autumn. The plant is frequently confused with the related P. cerasifera (cherry plum), but can be distinguished by flower color, sepal orientation, and fruit skin color.
Details
Rosales
Rosaceae
Prunus
The pit of the sloe contains trace amounts of hydrogen cyanide, a toxic compound. The plant is known for its thorny nature and dense growth habit.
The fruits are used to make sloe gin in Britain and patxaran in the Basque Country. The wood is used for making walking sticks, including the Irish shillelagh. The plant's dense growth and thorny nature make it suitable for creating cattle-proof hedges. The leaves resemble tea leaves and were used as an adulterant of tea. The fruit stones have been found in Swiss lake dwellings, indicating early human use. In medieval times, the sap of Prunus spinosa was used as an ingredient in some inks. The fruit is also used to make jam, chutney, and wine.
Early spring
5-6 meters
Creamy-white
Europe, western Asia, and locally in northwest Africa. It is also naturalized in Tasmania and eastern North America.
Info
Pannon Flora Ltd. was founded on December 13, 1999, by Gábor Janik, who retains 95% ownership. Janik holds an MSc in Horticulture from the University of Horticultural Sciences (1986) and an Advanced Professional English Certification from the College of International Trade (1990). The company specializes in bird feed production and export, primarily serving markets in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK, alongside cultivating and distributing imported/exported horticultural seeds. It maintains exclusive partnerships with JOEUN Seed (South Korea) and Takii Europe (Japan), a leader in professional seed breeding and production. Pannon Flora collaborates with certification bodies such as NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office), MERT Kontroll, and SGS Hungary to ensure compliance and quality. The company works with approximately 400 Hungarian growers, ranging from small-scale producers (under 5 hectares) to mid-sized farms and large-scale agricultural enterprises. This profile emphasizes agribusiness expertise, technical partnerships, and operational scalability tailored to international client needs.
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