Spindle
Euonymus europaeus
Also listed as Euonymus czernjaevii, Euonymus vulgaris
Also known as European Spindle Tree, Spindleberry, Common Spindle
Climate Match for your location
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A deciduous shrub or small tree valued for its attractive pale-green flowers in spring and striking pink-red capsular fruits that split open in autumn to reveal orange seeds. It provides excellent seasonal interest and is hardy, disease-resistant, and suitable for hedging or specimen planting.
Why grow it
Euonymus europaeus offers reliable four-season interest in temperate gardens: spring flowers, summer foliage, and autumn fruits and color that persist into winter. Compared to ornamental alternatives like burning bush (Euonymus alatus), spindle produces more delicate, translucent seed capsules rather than winged fruits, and flowers more conspicuously. It tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and moisture levels, making it a practical choice for hedging, windbreaks, or mixed borders where many ornamentals struggle.
Watch out for
The plant's vigorous growth habit means it benefits from annual pruning to maintain shape and encourage dense branching for hedging purposes. Seedlings self-establish readily in favorable conditions, so deadheading or managing volunteers may be necessary if naturalization is not desired. In very dry summers, spider mites may appear on stressed plants, though this is usually minor and self-limiting with adequate moisture.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Celastraceae
Native Range
Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A deciduous shrub or small tree valued for its attractive pale-green flowers in spring and striking pink-red capsular fruits that split open in autumn to reveal orange seeds. It provides excellent seasonal interest and is hardy, disease-resistant, and suitable for hedging or specimen planting.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Spindle grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Euonymus europaeus offers reliable four-season interest in temperate gardens: spring flowers, summer foliage, and autumn fruits and color that persist into winter. Compared to ornamental alternatives like burning bush (Euonymus alatus), spindle produces more delicate, translucent seed capsules rather than winged fruits, and flowers more conspicuously. It tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and moisture levels, making it a practical choice for hedging, windbreaks, or mixed borders where many ornamentals struggle.
Watch out for
The plant's vigorous growth habit means it benefits from annual pruning to maintain shape and encourage dense branching for hedging purposes. Seedlings self-establish readily in favorable conditions, so deadheading or managing volunteers may be necessary if naturalization is not desired. In very dry summers, spider mites may appear on stressed plants, though this is usually minor and self-limiting with adequate moisture.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Celastraceae
Native Range
Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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