Blackthorn bark is dark with spiky thorns. Its twigs are black with leaf buds along the sharp spines while the hawthorn bark is creamy brown and rough. The twigs are brown and slim with thorns which emerge from the buds. With thorns a common theme, it's best not to use touch in your examination of either.

Does blackthorn always have thorns?

Size: Shrub or small deciduous tree, up to 4m, twigs usually (but not always) very thorny. Flowers: 5 white petals, with yellow or white anthers.

What is the difference between blackthorn and sloe?

As nouns the difference between blackthorn and sloe

is that blackthorn is a large shrub or small tree, (taxlink), that is native to europe, western asia, and north africa it has a dark bark and bears thorns while sloe is the small, bitter, wild fruit of the blackthorn ((taxlink)); also, the tree itself.