Prunus spinosa Britain, and in Germany and other central European countries. Sloes can also be made into jam, chutney, and used in fruit pies. Sloes preserved in vinegar are similar in taste to Japanese "umeboshi". The juice of the fruits dyes linen a reddish colour that washes out to a durable pale blue. Blackthorn makes an excellent fire wood that burns slowly with a good heat and little smoke. The wood takes a fine polish and is used for tool handles and canes. Straight blackthorn stems have traditionally been made into walking sticks or clubs (known in Ireland as a shillelagh). In
Prunus salicina Prunus salicina Prunus salicina (syn. "Prunus triflora" or "Prunus thibetica"), commonly called the Japanese plum or Chinese plum, is a small deciduous tree native to China. It is now also grown in fruit orchards in Korea, Japan, the United States, and Australia. "Prunus salicina" should not be confused with the "Prunus mume", a related species of plum also grown in China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam. Another tree, "Prunus japonica", is also a separate species despite having a Latin name similar to "Prunus salicina"'s common name. Plant breeder Luther Burbank devoted a lot of work to hybridizing this species with the