Blackthorn and Hawthorn – can you tell the difference between these two small, thorny threes?
On blackthorn, the flowers come before the leaves. The small, white blossoms on bare twigs that currently grace the hedges and scrubby areas are blackthorn flowers, as in the photo. When fertilized, they will develop into purple sloes, ready for picking in early autumn for making delicious sloe gin – but beware the thorns!
Hawthorn, or whitethorn, however, already has vibrant green leaves. Not until May do the flowers brighten the hedgerows with swathes of white, hence the name May blossom. They will develop into dark red haws, an important autumn food source for many birds. Hawthorn flowers and berries are traditional herbal remedies, particularly for heart conditions.