03 March 2024

Growing Wild: Blackthorn flowers and whitethorn leaves

Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist, takes a closer look at some of our native Irish biodiversity, highlighting the key features of blackthorn and whitethorn – species often found in Irish hedgerows.

Blackthorn flowers

Look out for the first blackthorn flowers (pictured above), with small snow-white petals striking a stark contrast against the black stems. Blackthorn flowers appear before its leaves, which is a clear distinguishing difference from whitethorn, where the leaves appear first.

While regularly appearing after St. Patrick’s Day, blackthorn flowers appearing in February are very early. As they seem to be appearing on hedges planted in recent years, the concern is that early flowering shrubs may have been imported, of non-Irish provenance. Farmers planting hedges in ACRES who wish to include blackthorn can only use it if grown in Ireland of Irish provenance. Blackthorn with its sloes in autumn is part of our native Irish biodiversity.

Whitethorn leaves

Look out for the first whitethorn leaves (pictured below) unfurling. The leaves are lobed like oak leaves and appear before the white flowers, which is a clear distinguishing difference from blackthorn, where flowers appear before leaves.

As whitethorn leaves seem to be unfurling early on hedges planted in recent years, the concern is that such shrubs may have been imported, of non-Irish provenance. While recommended to plant whitethorn of Irish provenance, grown in Ireland, farmers in ACRES can now plant imported whitethorn.

Other hedging species must still be Irish grown. Supplies of Irish grown blackthorn, holly, hazel, spindle, guelder rose and dog rose are rare, but ACRES hedges can be fully whitethorn – part of our native Irish biodiversity.

Also read: Hedge and tree planting requirements for ACRES Tranche 1