Blackthorn
Prunus spinosa
Also called Sloe
Garden plant · TreesIt flowers on bare black wood before a single leaf, weeks before the hawthorn, and it suckers into a thicket if you let it. Sloes want a frost before they are worth picking.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Every 8 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun
- Feed
- Not needed
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Very hardy RHS H7, to -25°C
- Size
- 3.5 m tall · 3.5 m across
- Lifecycle
- Shrub
- Origin
- Europe, north Africa and western Asia
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsToxic to pets
Affects dogs, cats, horses.
PeopleHarmful if eaten
The seed kernels inside the sloes, and the leaves and stems.
HandlingTake care handling it
RHS says to wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling it, and names rabbits and rodents alongside dogs.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-11.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.