Blackthorn is a densely branched thorny shrub growing to a height of 1-5 m. The bark on the stem is blackish-brown and the lateral twigs have a terminal spine. The buds are small and ovate; the flower buds arc generally borne in dense clusters on short twigs. The whitish flowers appear in April -- May before the leaves. The fruits, known as sloes, ripen in September-October and are astringent, becoming tastier after the first frosts. The brown, pitted seed is difficult to separate from the pulp.
Cultivated varieties bear fruits from 5 to 11 cm across. These are either pear-shaped - C. o. pyriformis or apple-shaped - C. o. maliformis and contain a large number of brown seeds measuring 4-6 mm.
A native of the area bordering the Caspian Sea, it grows on sandy and loamy soils around lakes as well as on dry banks. In central and western Europe it is cultivated in parks and gardens for its fruits and as an ornamental species. It grows best in a sunny spot, and tolerates dry situations. In Europe it is frost-resistant only in warmer regions. The fruits are edible and used either raw or cooked. Propagation is by means of seeds or green cuttings.
The Japanese quince is a thorny shrub with several main stems reaching 1-2.5 m. One-year shoots are glossy greenish brown, older ones dark brown. The buds are squat and reddish, the flower buds twice as large as the leaf buds. The pink to dark red flowers, about 4 cm in diameter, appear from December to April, the earliest ones appearing before the leaves. The yellow ovoid fruits, without any sepals, ripen in autumn and remain on the shrub until winter.
Unlike the wild plant these do not have spines and their fruits are much larger, up to 5 or 6 cm across. Newly matured fruits have a bitter taste; they are eaten and processed after the advent of frosts when the pulp softens and turns brown.
It also stands up well to temperatures of minus 20C and grows on drier soils ; however, it requires a sunny aspect to produce a profusion of flowers. It is readily propagated by means of seeds and also throws up root suckers. Solitary specimens are very ornamental but it is equally well suited for the formation of thick thorny hedges. - 15266
Cultivated varieties bear fruits from 5 to 11 cm across. These are either pear-shaped - C. o. pyriformis or apple-shaped - C. o. maliformis and contain a large number of brown seeds measuring 4-6 mm.
A native of the area bordering the Caspian Sea, it grows on sandy and loamy soils around lakes as well as on dry banks. In central and western Europe it is cultivated in parks and gardens for its fruits and as an ornamental species. It grows best in a sunny spot, and tolerates dry situations. In Europe it is frost-resistant only in warmer regions. The fruits are edible and used either raw or cooked. Propagation is by means of seeds or green cuttings.
The Japanese quince is a thorny shrub with several main stems reaching 1-2.5 m. One-year shoots are glossy greenish brown, older ones dark brown. The buds are squat and reddish, the flower buds twice as large as the leaf buds. The pink to dark red flowers, about 4 cm in diameter, appear from December to April, the earliest ones appearing before the leaves. The yellow ovoid fruits, without any sepals, ripen in autumn and remain on the shrub until winter.
Unlike the wild plant these do not have spines and their fruits are much larger, up to 5 or 6 cm across. Newly matured fruits have a bitter taste; they are eaten and processed after the advent of frosts when the pulp softens and turns brown.
It also stands up well to temperatures of minus 20C and grows on drier soils ; however, it requires a sunny aspect to produce a profusion of flowers. It is readily propagated by means of seeds and also throws up root suckers. Solitary specimens are very ornamental but it is equally well suited for the formation of thick thorny hedges. - 15266
About the Author:
In garden planning, cutting and laying pieces of garden paving stone in a crazy paving pattern is a difficult, precision job.
