Tree

[Erichalfbee]

I've got one in the garden

So have I but the bullfinches have got all the flower buds.

 

[Into the lions den]

Looks to me like myrobalan plum (= cherry plum) which have been used as rootstocks and often sprout replacing the old plum trees as they die off. There are some in the orchard where I keep my bees and the flowers are just out. Also saw the first sprigs of blackthorn (sloe) out too*. There are planted blackthorn which generally come out a little before the abundant stands of native blackthorn bushes in the vicinty.

Blackthorn have spines but myrobalan/cherry plum don't. Very similar otherwise when in flower.

* A90 near Inchture if you are curious Murray.

OK.......there was a lot of this stuff either already in flower or soon to open last weekend down in Gloucs right beside some of the hives.............and it must have been a load of cherry plums that I took north to my father last autumn.......almost bent to the ground with them and I was sure they were sloes............looked like sloes, tasted like sloes, so I assumed they WERE sloes.

 

[johnandyrob]

Could well be blackthorn its starting to flower here. Check the leaves later when they come out.

 

[Winker]

It'll be a plum of some sort.

Blackthorn/sloe (same thing) aren't anywhere near flowering yet.

I have blackthorn starting to come into flower here. I have miles of it in hedge rows around my home, with miles of brambles growing throught it too

 

[Jeff Buzz]

actually i think toneybloke is right marabellum plum

 

[Saradan]

My first thought would be Blackthorn (I have a couple growing in the hedge on my allotment plot) which are almost at the same stage as the one in your photo.

The give away will be the thorns which are really thin and can be around around inch and half in length. You don't want one of those stuck in you

 

[nelletap]

It looks very much like one of our puzzling trees - just in flower (N side of the house) the fruit is hard to call. More the size of cherries but not in pairs like cherry - so we always debate between a cherry/plum. I have put it in home made ice cream (using almond milk or coconut milk rather than cows milk or cream from cows milk). We are in Bucks, in an area that has quite a lot of old planting - we have ancient woodland at the end of our lane. I think wild plum might fit our tree.
Tricia

 

[Luminos]

Would I be right in thinking that blackthorn (sloe)/plum/cherry are all prunus species?
May account for the similarity?

 

[Chris Luck]

Blackthorn Prunus spinosa as a simple Google will tell you.

Chris

 

[susbees]

It'll be a plum of some sort.

Blackthorn/sloe (same thing) aren't anywhere near flowering yet.

Erm they are all over Shropshire off the hills and down towards Oxford and up towards Manc and over towards Brum....can you see we had a busy week last week? Not out here yet at 200m and loads in the apiary field hedges.

It does look like cherry plum. They did very well in our field hedge in Norfolk. Sloe looks more upright, darker and has lethal spines. Great for sloe gin and shillaligh making . And pollen. And nothing else as they sucker everywhere.

 

[tonybloke]

we've been harvesting these trees for the last 20 yrs, I know what they are! the red ones make a lovely plum flavoured jam, and the yellow ones make a jam reminiscent of pineapple?
the stones are a 'b*gger' to get out before cooking, and even worse when cooked.

 

[Chris Luck]

Hmmm, get yourself one of these, works a treat for them.

It's an olive stoner.

Chris

 

[tonybloke]

tried one of them, Chris, didn't work!
I've found the best way is to half the fruit with a knife, then twist the stone out from each half, laborious task, but the jam is worth the hassle

 

[drstitson]

just discovered that neighbours have cut down the cherry plum that bordered our access road. They didn't like the fruit but we did.

any chance any of you with loads nearby have access to any saplings in need of a good home?

richard

 

[Ely]

I don't understand people cutting down trees unless it blocks all light from the house

 

[VEG]

So blocking light is a good reason?

 

[Chris Luck]

I can think of numerous good reasons for cutting down trees..

Chris

 

[VEG]

Me too but I am a tree surgeon

 

[Ely]

If there was a tree outside my window causing me to live in darkness I would see good reason to cut it down yes.