Family: rose family (Rosaceae)
Flowering time: March–May
Size: up to 4 m
Habitat: hedgerows, forest edges, rocky sunny slopes
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) is a branched shrub. It grows up to 4 m tall, and before fruiting it is protected by strong thorns. Individual flowers in early spring whiten the whole shrub, and with their nectar and numerous long protruding stamens attract bees and other pollinators. The diameter of the flowers is between 1 and 1.5 cm. Lanceolate leaves with finely serrated margins develop only after flowering. From pollinated and fertilized flowers develop dark blue, almost black stone fruits, which are covered by a gray-blue waxy coating – bloom. The edible fruits ripen in late autumn, but are quite tart. The first frost, which is also called oparnice for blackthorn fruits, removes the tart taste.
In sunny locations it can be found in nearly all of Slovenia.
