Euonymus europaeus

Spindle is a shrubby tree that grows between 2 and 6 metres in height, and up to 4 metres wide. It is found in woods, hedges and scrubland. It’s deciduous, so loses all of its leaves in autumn in a glorious burst of reds and pinks.

The wood from Spindle trees was used to make wooden spindles (giving it its name), knitting needles and toothpicks!

Spindle is toxic if eaten, so make sure you leave the berries to the birds! In fact, Spindle leaves and berries used to be dried and crushed to make an anti-lice powder!

Spindle and wildlife

Blackbirds and thrushes rely on the berries in winter, and the flowers are very important to pollinating insects in the Spring. Moth caterpillars and aphids love to feed on Spindle leaves, attracting predators such as small birds, hoverflies and ladybirds.

Spindle Identification

Spring

Its small oval-shaped leaves emerge in Spring, paired opposite each other along the branch.
Small round flower buds appear on stalks, opening up to show small green flowers appear, each with 4 petals in a cross shape, around April-May.

Summer

During summer the fruits have started to develop - they look like little green chinese lanterns with 4 little pods clear to see.
The oval leaves are narrow with a pointed tip, and a finely serrated edge.
New twigs and branches are bright green in colour.

Autumn

Spindle is very impressive in Autumn as its leaves turn bright red and pink.
The green fruits have turned a vibrant pink colour now, with a bright orange seed capsule hanging out of each part of the pod.

Winter

By winter, the fruit case has turned brown and the seed will have fallen out.
The current year's twig and branch growth will be bright green compared to the greyer bark of the previous year.

Spindle