Prunus spinosa L.

Prunus spinosa, called blackthorn or sloe, is a species of flowering plant in the rose family, Rosaceae. It is native to Europe and West Asia, and has been naturalised in parts of North America.

Source: Wikipedia

Synonyms 48

Druparia spinosa, Prunus acacia, Prunus amygdaliformis, Prunus densa, Prunus ericiflora, Prunus kurdica, Prunus moldavica, Prunus ovata, Prunus podolica, Prunus stepposa, Prunus subvillosa, Prunus vinariensis, Prunus communis subsp. spinosa, Prunus spinosa subsp. cerasina, Prunus spinosa subsp. cyclopetala, Prunus spinosa subsp. fechtneri, Prunus spinosa subsp. megalocarpa, Prunus spinosa subsp. moravica, Prunus spinosa subsp. ovoideoglobosa, Prunus spinosa subsp. rapaicsii, Prunus spinosa subsp. szabadosii, Prunus communis var. spinosa, Prunus domestica var. spinosa, Prunus erythrocalyx var. rubella, Prunus insititia var. brachypoda, Prunus insititia var. spinosa, Prunus polymorpha var. spinosa, Prunus spinosa var. acropyrena, Prunus spinosa var. amphitricha, Prunus spinosa var. amygdaliformis, Prunus spinosa var. angustifolia, Prunus spinosa var. atricha, Prunus spinosa var. balearica, Prunus spinosa var. brachypetala, Prunus spinosa var. brachypoda, Prunus spinosa var. chlorocarpa, Prunus spinosa var. cinerea, Prunus spinosa var. cinereo-ovata, Prunus spinosa var. clavaudii, Prunus spinosa var. coronata, Prunus spinosa var. dasyphylla, Prunus spinosa var. densa, Prunus spinosa var. depressa, Prunus spinosa var. dostalii, Prunus spinosa var. dulcescens, Prunus spinosa var. ellipsocarpa, Prunus spinosa var. ellipsoides, Prunus spinosa var. ericiflora

1,084,122 GBIF occurrences
63,004 iNaturalist observations

Conservation status code

Conservation: status label

Least Concern

Conservation: population trend

Stable

Conservation: year assessed

2026

IUCN Red List page

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/172194/209148147

Habitats

Threats

IUCN: population narrative

It is reported to be widespread and common in many countries and is known to be stable in Slovakia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, and the UK.

IUCN: habitat narrative

This species is able to grow in various soil types, occurring in open woodland, scrub, hedgerows, scree and cliff-slopes in the UK (BSBI 2023). In Finland, it is found in forest edges, roadside thickets, rocky sites and meadows, favouring limy soil. The Portuguese endemic P. spinosa subsp. insititioides occurs in alkaline soils and is frequent in woods, ditches, edges of paths and hedges (Espírito-Santo 1996).

IUCN: threats narrative

It is thought that some hybridisation is occurring with cultivated P. domestica, which is threatening the genetic integrity of the species.

IUCN: conservation narrative

This species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) in Lithuania (Rašomavičius 2007), but as Least Concern (LC) in several other countries, including Denmark (Aarhus Universitet 2019).As it is a widespread species, some subpopulations occur in protected areas. It is recommended that the monitoring and management of this species be incorporated into the existing management plans of these sites.The Portuguese endemic P. spinosa subsp. insititioides occurs partly in the Natural Park of Serra de Aire e Caindeeiros (Espírito-Santo1992) and the Natural Park of Sintra-Cascais (Espírito-Santo 1996). According to Espírito-Santo (1996), there is no need to undertake special conservation measures.The species is represented by 132 germplasm accessions held at European institutions (EURISCO 2024) and is included in the living collection of at least 151 botanical gardens (BGCI 2024). It occurs in many protected areas, including Natura 2000 sites (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2024, GBIF.org 2024).

IUCN: rationale

European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) is widely distributed across Europe and is known to be widespread, common and stable throughout much of its range. It is therefore regionally assessed as Least Concern for both Europe and for the EU27 Member States. However, it is nationally threatened in some countries at the periphery of its range. National level monitoring may be required.

Prunus spinosa L.

Related species

Gallery