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Euonymus europaeus

spindle

Celastraceae Europe and western Asia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 3–7

Overview

Euonymus europaeus is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the staff-vine family, reaching 6-20 feet (1.8-6 m) tall with an open, twiggy crown. The young twigs are green and faintly four-angled, a feature that helps identify the plant in winter. Opposite, finely toothed leaves 1.5-4 inches (4-10 cm) long are mid-green through summer and turn shades of red and purple in autumn. Small yellow-green four-petaled flowers cluster in the leaf axils in late spring and are pollinated by insects. The fruit is the showiest feature: a deep pink to red four-lobed capsule about 0.5 inch (1.2 cm) wide that splits in fall to reveal seeds wrapped in a bright orange fleshy coat. Birds eat the orange arils and disperse the seeds. All parts, especially the fruit and seeds, contain alkaloids and cardiac glycosides that are poisonous if eaten. The hard, pale wood was once used to make spindles, skewers, and artists' charcoal. Euonymus europaeus grows in hedgerows, woodland edges, and scrub, mainly on lime-rich soils.

Native Range

Euonymus europaeus is native to Europe and western Asia, from the British Isles and Scandinavia south to the Mediterranean and east to the Caucasus. It grows in hedgerows, woodland margins, and scrub, mostly over chalk and limestone.

Suggested Uses

Grown in mixed and native hedgerows, woodland-edge plantings, and shrub borders for its fall color and fruit. The flowers draw insects and the seeds feed birds such as robins and warblers. Because all parts are toxic, it is placed away from areas used by young children and grazing stock.

How to Identify

Recognized by green, four-angled young twigs, opposite finely toothed leaves, and red-purple fall color. In autumn the deep pink four-lobed capsules split to show seeds in a bright orange coat. The angular green stems and lobed pink capsules separate it from other hedgerow shrubs.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 20'

Width/Spread6' - 12'

Reaches mature size in approximately 20 years

Colors

Flower Colors

green

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

red

purple

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Spring

Yellow-green flowers open in late spring, from May into June, in small clusters at the leaf axils. They are inconspicuous and insect-pollinated. The season of display comes in fall, when the pink capsules and orange-coated seeds appear.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

medium green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay chalk sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

10-20 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow in full sun to part shade on most well-drained soils, with the strongest fall color and fruiting in sun on lime-rich ground. Established plants tolerate drought, exposure, and a range of soil types but grow poorly in waterlogged sites. It needs little routine care once settled. The shrub is a winter host for black bean aphids, which can move to nearby beans and other crops in spring. All parts are poisonous to people if eaten, and the colorful fruit is the part most likely to be tasted. Pruning is light and mainly for shape.

Pruning

Pruning is light and done in late winter while dormant, removing dead, crossing, or crowded stems to keep an open framework. Plants tolerate harder cutting back and can be grown as an informal hedge that is trimmed after fruiting. Taking out some older stems at the base renews growth on neglected shrubs.