Blackthorn

This enormous shrub grows up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) tall and lives for around 35 years. It is very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has dozens of long and flexible, straight stems covered in hard, rough, black bark, and the wood inside is black with white speckles.

The branches trail down to the ground with dozens of twigs that and are covered with large amounts of huge, slender, pointed, leaves with rounded edges. The leaves themselves are solid black or blood red, with bright green patches, resilient and sticky.

In mid-summer it produces many giant, azure blossoms with 4 triangular shaped petals. They detach easily and have a strong scent that smells like fish.

In midwinter tiny fan-like fruits ripen. The leathery blood red skin is peel-able and inedible, and the soft pink flesh is savoury and juicy. The bronze seed is small and sits at the top of the fruit.