Mnemo · CC BY-SA 3.0
Blackthorn sloe
Shrub·Prunus spinosa
Full sun
Sun
Medium
Water
Moist soil
Drainage
Zones 4–8
Hardiness
Blackthorn sloe (Prunus spinosa) is a shrub. It grows best in full sun and has moderate water needs.
Through the year
DormantFloweringFruitingReady to harvest
Works well with
from wiki dataNo companions recorded.
WHAT IT NEEDS
Wants full sun
Needs moderate water
Tolerates moist soil, as long as it drains well
Prefers soil pH 6–8
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Prefers loam, clay, sandy loam soil
Tolerates compacted soil well
Draws up potassium, calcium from deep in the soil
Adds a moderate amount of organic matter to the soil
Partners with mycorrhizal fungi to boost nutrient uptake
WHAT IT GIVES
Gives mulch biomass (medium)
Gives nectar (for pollinators)
Gives pollen (for pollinators)
Gives fruit (edible sloe berries)
Provides potassium
Provides calcium
Attracts pollinators
Attracts birds
Shelters wildlife
HOW IT GROWS
SIZE & SPACING
Shrub layer
Height200–400 cm
Spacing200 cm (min 100 cm)
Root depthMedium
Width200–400 cm
Width figures are rough estimates, the most variable measurement in our data.
AI estimate · accuracy improves as growers contribute corrections.
HOW TO PROPAGATE
Propagate by seed, cuttings, suckers
Difficulty
Establishes in about 2 yr
Self-seeds readily on its own
Where this comes from
Parsed11 Sept 2026
ConfidenceNot recorded
Photograph Mnemo · CC BY-SA 3.0