Blackthorn — Identification, Uses and Properties
Prunus spinosa Rosaceae
Rarely available as commercial lumber; typically sold as specialty craft stock, walking stick blanks, or firewood.
Most famous for the Irish shillelagh and traditional walking sticks. Its high heat output and slow burn make it an excellent firewood.
HARDWOOD EUROPE, ASIA, AFRICA, NORTH AMERICA WALKING STICKS
Taxonomy & Nomenclature
Botanical Name(s)
Prunus spinosa
Family
Rosaceae
Wood type
Hardwood
Local Names
Sloe (United Kingdom), Draighean (Ireland), Slae (Scotland), Endrino (Spain), Espino negro (Spain), Épine noire (France), Schlehe (Germany)
Origin Region
Europe, Asia, Africa, North America
Main End Uses
Walking sticks · Shillelaghs · Tool handles · Turnery · Firewood · Decorative crafts · Cudgels · Small wooden items
Wood Identification Guide
Reference Colour
Light yellow to brown
Texture
Fine, close-grained
Grain
Straight to irregular or twisted
Sapwood
Light yellow
Notes
The wood is extremely hard, tough, and heavy for its size. It features a light yellow sapwood clearly demarcated from a brown heartwood, which may sometimes have a greenish or orange hue in older trees. It is characterized by its small diameter stock, often exhibiting interesting twisted shapes due to the shrub's growth habit. The bark is notably dark brown to black, giving the species its name.
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Log Description
Tree height
20 – 23 ft
Tree height
6 – 7 m
Durability & Treatment
Resistance to Decay
DurableDrying Schedule & Risks
Risk Distortion
High
Risk Checking
High
Sawing & Machining
Blunting Effect
Moderate to high
Suitability Peeling
Not suitable
Suitability Slicing
Not suitable
Notes
Due to its hardness, the wood can be difficult to work once seasoned, hardening to a plastic-like consistency. It takes an exceptionally fine polish directly from the tool.Assembling & Finishing
Nailing Screwing
Difficult
CITES & Trade Restrictions
CITES Status
Unlisted
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