[Parsley]

I'm sure this is possibly a silly question, but does blackthorn grow in NZ - I know that there's lots of accidentally imported plants there and wondered if blackthorn was one of them. I'm rather partial to making sloe gin, hence the question. If not, does anyone make any sort of NZ equivalent from a native fruit? :p

[JandM]

Yes, blackthorn DOES grow in NZ. Quite a lot of places have it as a deliberately planted hedge - you might have to get it as a garden plant.

[benandclare]

Clare does a wicked Sloe Gin and we've bought a damson tree in a nursery here. There were also Sloe trees/bushes for sale so we'll be going back to buy one or two very soon.

Not seen any Blackthorn hedges down here in Canterbury.

[Parsley]

Thanks guys - to be fair, if there hadn't been blackthorn and sloes, I'd always find something else to bung in gin! :D