European Spindle Tree Euonymus europaeus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- yoo-ON-ih-mus yoo-ROH-pay-us
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
European Spindle Tree is a tall, upright, sometimes spindly, deciduous shrub or small tree that has the typical Euonymus characteristics; a tough, long-lasting plant that grows rounder and wider as it matures. In the wild, European Spindle Tree is usually found in the woods, scrub, and hedges of Europe, usually on calcareous soils. It also has the poisonous characteristic typical of all Euonymus shrubs when parts are eaten in large quantities. No parts of the shrub should be eaten, including the berries or flowers. This shrub has weedy to invasive tendencies and should be avoided. Please see alternative shrubs to the left.
These shrubs are not known for showy flowers, which are small, half inch in size, and yellowish green in mid-spring. In the fall, the leaf color can be dull tan to yellow-green to a a burgundy. Its' most showy feature is the brightly colored fall berries that begin shrouded in pink to red capsules and open to bright orange fleshy seed coverings (arils), which are eaten by some birds.
The European Spindle Tree is particularly suited to dry shaded areas and prefers a well-drained, alkaline, loamy soil. It tolerates most soil types and should be planted in well drained but moist soil in full sun to part shade. It tolerates close to full shade, but at the expense of diminished fall color. It appreciates consistent and even moisture, particularly when grown in full sun locations. Note that these plants often struggle in the southeastern United States, south of USDA Zone 7.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Scale can be a significant problem and should be treated if it appears. Possible disease problems include twig blight, anthracnose, crown gall, leaf spot and mildew. Birds spread the seeds, leading to the shrub's tendency to invasiveness, which can be controlled through pruning.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Albus'
Features white fruit. - 'Red Cascade'
Slow growth to 8-13 ft. high and wide, bright red leaves and orange fruit in autumn.
- 'Albus'
- 'Albus', 'Red Cascade'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Albus'
Features white fruit. - 'Red Cascade'
Slow growth to 8-13 ft. high and wide, bright red leaves and orange fruit in autumn.
- 'Albus'
- 'Albus', 'Red Cascade'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Euonymus
- Species:
- europaeus
- Family:
- Celastraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The whole plant yields a volatile oil that is used in soap making. A high quality charcoal is obtained from the wood, it is used by artists.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to Caucasus and western Asia.
- Distribution:
- Widely distributed in Europe (Britain to Sweden, south to Spain) and western Asia. Also found in eastern Canada and the eastern United States.
- Wildlife Value:
- Some birds eat the berries
- Edibility:
- Toxic when eaten in quantity by humans.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 16 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Erect
- Irregular
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Capsule
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The colorful pinkish to red berry emerges from a capsule in the fall. It should not be eaten by humans. It is about one half to three quarters inch across. Pinkish-red capsules split open to reveal tiny seeds, each of which is encased in a fleshy orange aril. Seeds are attractive to certain birds who eat and distribute them.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small, yellowish-green flowers (1/2 inch across) bloom in 3 to 5 flowered cymes from late April to June. Flowers are not very showy.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblanceolate
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Ovate to oblong-lanceolate, crenate-serrate, glabrous, dull dark green leaves (to 3 inches long) turn variable shades of red to orange to purple in fall. Base is wedge-shaped with a pointed tip and margins have rounded teeth
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Light Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Bark Description:
- Grey-brown bark when shrub matures with ridges
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Thin, greenish-red stems. Brown branches are square
-
-
Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Weedy
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, chills, coma, and convulsions if any parts, including berries, are eaten in large quantities.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Unidentified, possibly a glycoside
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Seeds
- Stems
