Planting, care, pruning and location of the common spindle

Plant portrait: European spindle

The European spindle is native to central Europe. It is widespread throughout Europe and into Asia and the Caucasus. It grows on the edges of woods and in hedgerows.

It is an inconspicuous garden plant in spring and summer. The shrub grows to a height of three to five metres and has a dense network of almost vertical branches. Neither its elongated, egg-shaped leaves nor its yellow-green flowers, which appear between May and June, attract attention. It is only in autumn that the decorative foliage of the spindle tree adds a splash of colour to the garden. However, the bright red fruits are particularly beautiful. As they ripen, they burst open to reveal their orange seeds – an attractive display of colour. But be careful! The leaves and fruit of the spindle tree are poisonous to humans.

Spindles root shallowly and sprout elsewhere. This can be a nuisance.Spindle trees take root shallowly and sprout again at other points. This can be somewhat troublesome.

Origin of the name

The shrub was named for the resemblance of its fruit to a bishop’s mitre. The name ‘spindle’ comes from the fact that the wood was once used to make spindles for weaving.

The botanical genus name Euonymus means ‘of good reputation’. However, it is probably a ‘taboo name’. Even the ancient Greeks knew and feared the poisonous nature of the shrub. The harmless name was probably intended to fool the evil demons thought to be behind the poison.

Habitat and distribution

In the wild the common spindle is a component of the shrub layer of light broadleaf woods. It does not like to be the centre of attention, but is very much at home in the company of sloes, honeysuckles, privets, elderberries and dogwoods.

Spindle is native to almost all of Europe except Scotland and parts of Scandinavia. There are more than 175 species, most of which are native to East Asia and the Himalayas. In Germany only Euonymus europaea grows, and in the foothills of the Alps Euonymus latifolia, the broad-leaved spindle.

Location and soil

Euonymus is an undemanding shrub for the garden. All it needs is a bright, preferably sunny spot to thrive, but it will tolerate shady areas.

It will grow in almost any soil, but will flower more abundantly in dry, chalky soils. To prepare the soil before planting, add humus and a little lime.Caring for Common Spindles

Spindles are very easy to look after. It is not usually necessary to feed the shrub. However, you can add compost or horn shavings to support it. Regular watering is not necessary either. It should only be watered during prolonged periods of drought.

Pruning the common spindle

The good news for lazy gardeners is that the spindle tree doesn’t need to be pruned if you have enough space in your garden. However, as the plant grows up to 20 centimetres a year, it can get a bit crowded for neighbouring plants. This is when you can use the pruning shears to shorten the plant, as the spindle tree is a good performer when it comes to pruning. The best time to prune is in spring or autumn. When pruning the spindle tree, always cut the branches just above an outward-facing bud. You should also remove any branches that cross or grow inwards.

The spindle can withstand heavy pruning. This should be done in early spring.

A bird-friendly spindle

While we humans enjoy the sight of the colourful fruits, birds are crazy about them. The orange fruits are a delicacy to them. Its popularity with birds, especially robins, has earned it the nickname ‘robin bread’.

Spindle is poisonous to humans. The fruit should not be eaten.

European spindle for wild bees and other insects

The spindle is not only popular with birds. The red-footed sand bee (Andrena fulva) and many butterflies are attracted to the flowers and are important pollinators.

The spindle tree is poisonous

Although our feathered friends like the taste, the seeds of the spindle tree, like all other parts of the plant, are highly toxic to humans. 12-14 hours after ingestion, symptoms include circulatory problems, colic, fever and diarrhoea. They can lead to death by loss of consciousness.

In the past, the deadly effect of the seeds was used as an insect repellent. It was thought to be effective against scabies and head lice in ointments and shampoos.

Pests

The spindle tree is popular with a number of pests: In spring, the spindle moth likes to attack the shrub, covering it with dense webs and eating it bare. It’s not a pretty sight, although the shrub usually comes back a second time. The black bean aphid overwinters on the shrub and feeds on the leaves in the first generation. It then changes host.

Photo credit:
Common spindle, many fruits, Image by Светлана Бердник