Blackthorn is traditionally used to keep cattle in. So is Osage Orange. Which can be bent and wove like crazy espalier. A bonus with Osage Orange; plant some straight to back it. If you get tired of it latter, cut down the woven Osage Orange and use the straight Osage Orange as rot proof posts.
Sea Buckthorn has done very well for me with dang near 100% neglect and might be worth looking into. In my opinion it checks every box you require ontop of being very medicinal. The berries don’t taste good at all but I eat them fresh every season for the health benefits they provide. My male keeps dying back but the female right next to it is flourishing and suckering more and more each season.
However many varieties can be either floppy or grow rather slowly even with pamperimg.
I did a rough count and i am going to dig up 10 of these guys as i am planting something else and these are suckers. If anyone is interested contact me…otherwise im going to pot them up for a later date or perhaps locate them for wildlife.
Blend them with 2 parts of water and some sugar to taste. Strain the seeds through a tea sieve. You get a very tasty “multi-vitamin” type of juice.
I’ve always wanted Sea Buckthorn. But seems like the price of them has really increased lately. More then other plants.
Yes, flowering quince are not rigidly upright. Moundy is their habit, but I suggested them because the op didn’t mind shrubs that would be wide. Certainly, they will be no wider than some of the other suggestions here. They may be slow for the first couple years, but once they get going they are incredibly resilient and durable. They are often an indication when there used to be a home in an area that now looks otherwise uninhabited as they will outlive many buildings and gardens surrounding them.
My mom actually has one that gets those in the middle of her yard. She’s tried to get rid of it a number of times but it keeps growing back but it’s slow to get going. It gets those apple things as well on it. @JohannsGarden
Like it does have some long thorns, there aren’t a ton and it’s not that imposing looking. It’s kinda pretty 
The thought crossed my mind about using that and she shot that down pretty quick.
Picture is from the end of march
ran into them also, but the briars had thin 1/3in.wippy canes and the hooks were bigger and more hook like and were bright green. saw some hunting in m.o. but not as prevalent as p.a. thank God!
Growing up, our neighbors put many dents in our siding. My dad solved that problem by planting a row of pyracantha along that side of the house. No more dents but lots of popped soccer balls…
Im wanting to get into the Blackthorn (sloe) business… i want them to grow here. Look to be excellent for pollinators and forage for myself and local species. How do i get going? Plants? Seeds?
Bullace looks good too!
Here, in the Carpathian mountains they grow like weeds. They are easy to grow from seed - any jay can do it, so go ahead from seed. There’s little variation except size and juiciness but that is likely due to moisture + nutrients available. And they love alkaline soil.
Damsons look good too…
I have a 300 foot or so hedgerow going…it has elders and brambles and persimmons and landrace peaches along with many things i have forgotten that i planted.
I plan on another 500 foot hedgerow that i have been working on.
Hedgerow Jam sounds wonderful to me.
Go for it! We have a lot of wild prunes in the wild part of our property. And prune x aronia jam is one of my favourites.
Which is this? That looks like a blackberry leaf but that thorn is very hooked!!!
that things wicked cool looking! the berries decent? looks like a cross of wineberries and briar.
