Prunus spinosa
- Height: up to 5 m
- Trunk: initially reddish-brown bark, later blackish, longitudinally fissured, often shrub-like, densely branched, sharp thorns on short shoots
- Crown: funnel-shaped, densely bushy
- Leaves: alternate, small, up to 4 cm long, obovate, wedge-shaped and tapering, with a notched-serrated margin, often hairy, dull dark green
- Buds: small, about the size of a pinhead, brown, hairy
- Flowers: numerous white, fragrant flowers, before leaf emergence in March/April, attracts bees
- Fruits/Seeds: spherical to slightly oval, about 1–2 cm thick stone fruits, black-blue, covered with a waxy coating (therefore appear frosted)
- Other: Ancestor of mirabelle plums and plums, also known as blackthorn; fruits are edible and sweet (used in jams, juices, and liqueurs) only after the first frost and also serve as food for birds and insects
Photos: Tobias Erras (1,2), Thomas Stephan (3), Wolfgang Schödel (4), Christoph Bosch (5)