How do you tell the difference between sloes and Bullaces?
Sloes grow on the Blackthorn tree, the clue’s in the name, if you can pick them without getting scratched they’re bullace, if your flesh is ripped to shreds on vicious thorns, they’re sloes.
Can damsons be green?
There are several varieties of the Bullace in cultivation, sometimes referred to as “Damsons”, both Bullace and Damson originate from P. domestica, Bullace has a round fruit and is generally green with, Damson being more oval and purple in colouration.
What do Bullaces look like?
Little-known bullace are wild greengages that can be either yellow-green or blue-black and can often be mistaken for extra-large sloes. They have a full-on fruity, plum-like taste, yet are acidic and require plenty of sugar.
How do you identify a bullace?
- Found in woodland, hedgerows, gardens and parks.
- reaches 5 – 10m.
- Leaves are oval in shape, wrinkled, and slightly downy underneath.
- Leaves broaden slightly on the top half.
- Bark is dark coloured and slightly shiny on younger branches.
- Flowers are white in spring.
- Fruit is green, yellow or purple-black.
Are Bullaces sweet?
Some folk will insist that a ripe bullace is more likely to have a mellow sweetness closer to a damson, but both fruits exude the fruity, sour flavours that go so well with clear spirits.
Are Bullaces edible?
The bullace is a variety of plum. It bears edible fruit similar to those of the damson, and like the damson is considered to be a strain of the insititia subspecies of Prunus domestica. Though smaller than most damsons, bullaces are much larger than the closely related sloe.
What colour goes with damson?
Zesty and fruity tones such as damson, blueberry, raspberry and lemon will look great combined with crisp white or sherbet colour tones for a perfect balance of vibrancy and tranquillity. Damson colours work incredibly well with floral prints and patterns to give textural and tonal variation on a plain sofa or bed set.
Are Sloes the same as damsons?
Sloes, wild damsons, wild cherry plums and bullaces all came from the same family – albeit distant relations. Sloe bushes have sharp thorns and wild damson trees do not. Damsons have longer stems so hang and look more like a tiny plum. Sloes have shorter stems and hug the branches more.
When should bullaces be picked?
Bullaces generally ripen in October–November, rather later than other types of plum, and fruit heavily.
Do Sloes have stones?
Sloes, wild damsons, wild cherry plums and bullaces all came from the same family – albeit distant relations. They all have stones and the bushes have similar leaves. Damsons have longer stems so hang and look more like a tiny plum. Sloes have shorter stems and hug the branches more.
What can be mistaken for Sloes?
Sloes have shorter stems and hug the branches more. Steve pointed out (see comments) that sloes can be confused with Deadly Nightshade – you can see some photos Deadly Nightshade photos here.
What do wild sloes look like?
The sloe grows on the blackthorn bush. These are easily identifiable due to their inch long black thorns. They are a wild form of plum and so expect the bush to look like a miniature plum tree. Cut it open and look for a pip that looks like a plum.
Is the bullace a damson or a sloe?
We had found a cluster of Bullace trees; a wild plum and relative of both Sloe and Damson. The good news is that these are just as suitable for flavouring Gin as both Damson and Sloes so, after a little bit of child labour employed to collect the berries we can let infusion fun commence.
What are the different types of bullace in England?
Four main varieties of bullace are recognised in England: the White, Black, Shepherd’s and Langley.
Where can you find bullaces in the wild?
They may sometimes be found growing wild in woods or hedgerows, particularly near old farmhouses; others may be found in old gardens or orchards, or can still be purchased from some nurseries.
What’s the best way to wash a sloe?
Wash the sloes and prick all over with a fork so the flavours can ooze out of their tannin rich skins. If you’re feeling a bit lazy then freezing them will perform a similar task.