Seasonal Wild Flowers

Spindle

Latin name

Euonymus europaeus

Family

Celastraceae

Flowering season

May to June

English distribution

It is found throughout the country except for parts of the

North.

See the BSBI distribution map for Spindle

Habitat

It is found in woods, scrub and hedges, particularly on

alkaline soils.

It is also planted in gardens and as hedging.

Some country roads in Hampshire are lined with

spindle hedges.

Description

Spindle is a native, deciduous shrub or small tree,

growing up to 5m.

The flowers are quite inconspicuous.

They are 4-merous with greenish-white petals.

Leaves are green, slightly toothed and oval to

lanceolate.

The leaves turn pinkish-red in the autumn, making a

striking display.

The fruit bodies are particularly handsome. They have 4

segments and are initially green. In September and

October they turn an attractive coral, pink and release

bright orange seeds.

According to Mabey (1996) in Flora Britannica, the

name spindle was imported from Holland and reflected

its use in hand-spinning there. Prior to this, it was used

in England for skewers, toothpicks and knitting needles,

and was called appropriately, skewerwood,

pincushion shrub and prickwood.

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Spindle tree in October

Flowers and leaves in May

4-merous flower

Immature fruit

Mature fruit

Release of orange seeds

A couple of old fruits

Slightly toothed leaves

Autumn colours

Fruits en masse