
Blackthorn or Sloe Seeds (Prunus spinosa)
Blackthorn or Sloe Seeds (Prunus spinosa)
Price for Package of 10 seeds.
Prunus spinosa (blackthorn, or sloe) is a species of Prunus native to Europe, western Asia, and locally in northwest Africa. It is also locally naturalized in New Zealand and
Blackthorn or Sloe Seeds (Prunus spinosa)
Price for Package of 10 seeds.
Prunus spinosa (blackthorn, or sloe) is a species of Prunus native to Europe, western Asia, and locally in northwest Africa. It is also locally naturalised in New Zealand and eastern North America.
Prunus spinosa is a large deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 5 metres (16 ft) tall, with blackish bark and dense, stiff, spiny branches. The leaves are oval, 2–4.5 centimetres (0.79–1.77 in) long and 1.2–2 centimetres (0.47–0.79 in) broad, with a serrated margin. The flowers are 1.5 centimetres (0.59 in) diameter, with five creamy-white petals; they are produced shortly before the leaves in early spring, and are hermaphroditic and insect-pollinated. The fruit, called a "sloe", is a drupe 10–12 millimetres (0.39–0.47 in) in diameter, black with a purple-blue waxy bloom, ripening in autumn, and harvested—traditionally, at least in the UK, in October or November after the first frosts. Sloes are thin-fleshed, with a very strongly astringent flavour when fresh.
Prunus spinosa is frequently confused with the related P. cerasifera (cherry plum), particularly in early spring when the latter starts flowering somewhat earlier than P. spinosa. They can be distinguished by flower colour, creamy white in P. spinosa, pure white in P. cerasifera. They can also be distinguished in winter by the more shrubby habit with stiffer, wider-angled branches of P. spinosa; in summer by the relatively narrower leaves of P. spinosa, more than twice as long as broad and in autumn by the colour of the fruit skin—purplish-black in P. spinosa and yellow or red in P. cerasifera.
The specific name spinosa is a Latin term indicating the pointed and thornlike spur shoots characteristic of this species.
The common name "blackthorn" is due to the thorny nature of the shrub, and its very dark bark.
The word commonly used for the fruit, "sloe" comes from Old English slāh. The same word is noted in Middle Low German, historically spoken in Lower Saxony, Middle Dutch sleuuwe or, contracted form, slē, from which come Modern Low German words: slē, slī, and Modern Dutch slee, Old High German slēha", "slēwa, from which come Modern German Schlehe and Danish slåen.
The names related to 'sloe' come from the Common Germanic root *slaiχwōn. Cf. West Slavic / Polish śliwa; plum of any species, including sloe śliwa tarnina—root present in other Slavic languages, e.g. Croatian/Serbian šljiva / шљива.
The expression "sloe-eyed" for a person with dark eyes comes from the fruit, and is first attested in A. J. Wilson's 1867 novel Vashti.
The foliage is sometimes eaten by the larvae of Lepidoptera, including emperor moth, willow beauty, white-pinion spotted, common emerald, November moth, pale November moth, mottled pug, green pug, brimstone moth, feathered thorn, brown-tail, yellow-tail, short-cloaked moth, lesser yellow underwing, lesser broad-bordered yellow underwing, double square-spot, black and brown hairstreaks, hawthorn moth (Scythropia crataegella) and the case-bearer moth Coleophora anatipennella. Dead blackthorn wood provides food for the caterpillars of the concealer moth Esperia oliviella.
The pocket plum gall is found on the fruit, where it results in an elongated and flattened gall, devoid of a stone.
Uses
The shrub, with its savage thorns, is traditionally used in Northern Europe and Britain in making a hedge against cattle or a "cattle-proof" hedge.
The fruit is similar to a small damson or plum, suitable for preserves, but rather tart and astringent for eating, unless it is picked after the first few days of autumn frost. This effect can be reproduced by freezing harvested sloes.
The juice is used in the manufacture of spurious port wine, and used as an adulterant to impart roughness to genuine port. In rural Britain, so-called sloe gin is made from the fruit, though this is not a true gin, but an infusion of gin with the fruit and sugar to produce a liqueur. In Navarre, Spain, a popular liqueur called pacharan is made with sloes. In France a similar liqueur called épine or épinette or troussepinette is made from the young shoots in spring. In Italy, the infusion of spirit with the fruits and sugar produces a liqueur called bargnolino (or sometimes prunella) - as well as in France where it is called "prunelle". Wine made from fermented sloes is made in Britain, and in Germany and other central European countries. Sloes can also be made into jam and, used in fruit pies, and if preserved in vinegar are similar in taste to Japanese umeboshi. The juice of the berries dyes linen a reddish color that washes out to a durable pale blue.
Blackthorn makes an excellent fire wood that burns slowly with a good heat and little smoke. The wood takes a fine polish and is used for tool handles and canes. Straight blackthorn stems have traditionally been made into walking sticks or clubs (known in Ireland as a shillelagh). In the British Army, blackthorn sticks are carried by commissioned officers of the Royal Irish Regiment; the tradition also occurs in Irish regiments in some Commonwealth countries.
The leaves resemble tea leaves, and were used as an adulterant of tea. Shlomo Yitzhaki, a Talmudist and Tanakh commentator of the High Middle Ages, writes that the sap (or gum) of P. spinosa (or what he refers to as the prunellier) was used as an ingredient in the making of some inks used for manuscripts.
The fruit stones have been found in Swiss lake dwellings.
Evidence of the early use of sloes by man is found in the famous case of a 3,300-year-old human mummy discovered in 1991 in the Ötztal Alps along the Austrian-Italian border (nick-named Ötzi): among the stomach contents were sloes.
A "sloe-thorn worm" used as fishing bait is mentioned in the 15th-century work, The Treatyse of Fishing with an Angle, by Juliana Berners.
Organic Seeds ? | Organic Seeds |
---|---|
Organic/natural ? | Organic/Natural: Yes |
Edible ? | Edible |
Germination ? | Germination rate 75% |
Pretreatment of sowing ? | Scarification needed: Yes Soak in water before sowing 12-24 h Stratification needed: Yes |
Sowing depth ? | Sowing depth 2 cm |
Life Cycle: | Perennial plant : Yes |
Handpicked seeds ? | Handpicked seeds |
Resistant to cold and frost ? | Cold resistant: to −40 °C |
Origin of seeds ? | Origin of seeds: Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Origin Country of Variety ? | Variety from: Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Medicinal Plant ? | Medicinal Plant: Yes |


Your review appreciation cannot be sent
Report comment
Report sent
Your report cannot be sent
Write your review
Review sent
Your review cannot be sent
🌍 Worldwide Shipping from the EU
We ship worldwide from the European Union using registered air post with signature confirmation on delivery.
📦 Tracking Your Order
Log in to your account and go to Order History > Details to find your tracking number.
You will receive email notifications at every step — please check your spam/junk folder if you don’t see them.
Track your package via:
⚠️ Important Notices
Cash on delivery is not available.
Always provide a valid mobile number with country code when ordering (e.g., +365 456 7686 576).
Do not order to P.O. Boxes or if you cannot be home to sign for the package. We cannot leave parcels with neighbors.
If a package sent to a P.O. Box is lost or undelivered, you lose the right to a refund.
📦 Lost, Returned & Reshipping Packages
For customers in Brazil and Mexico:
We cannot refund packages lost or destroyed by customs.
If your package is returned, we will refund only the product cost — shipping costs are not refundable.
You must pay return postage (€2) and any costs for reshipping.
If a package is returned to us for any reason, you are responsible for paying the return shipping (€2) plus the cost to resend the package.
🚚 Shipment Delivery
Registered shipments require a signature from the recipient.
If your tracking shows the package is still at the origin post office, it means the package is in transit — please contact your local post office directly for updates.
We are not responsible for delivery times and cannot track shipments for you.
📅 Delivery Options & Estimated Times
Delivery Option Processing Time Notes Priority Delivery Ships in 1-7 business days Prioritizes order processing (not guaranteed faster delivery); delays possible during holidays (3-10 days) Secured Delivery Ships in 1-7 business days Available for orders up to €150; refund if lost Standard Delivery Ships in 7-10 business days More economical; delays possible during holidays (7-14 days) Estimated Delivery Time:
Within the EU: 3–20 days
Worldwide: 5–30 days
Example delivery times to the USA:
Delivered in 13, 17, 19, 22, or 27 days.Note: Delivery times depend on your location and the local postal system. COVID-19 may cause additional delays.
💰 Shipping Costs
Shipping and handling fees are calculated automatically during checkout based on the weight of the parcel and the destination country.
⏰ Order Processing Hours
We do not process or ship orders on Saturdays or Sundays.
💳 Payment Options
Bank Transfer (SEPA / IBAN / SWIFT-BIC)
Include your order reference in the payment description (e.g., "SGS-19811702"). Orders without payment within 7 days are automatically cancelled.PayPal
Payments accepted in Euros only. Please select Euros at checkout.Card Payment
For card payments, visit our other site: Exotic Seeds Store
We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, CB, Diners Club, Discover, China UnionPay, JCB, and Discover.
⚠️ Transaction Fees
Customers are responsible for any transaction fees. Please provide payment details to help us process your order efficiently.
📢 Final Notes
Before placing your order, please check our website for any special notices, holiday schedules, or specific conditions that may affect your purchase.
Related Products
