Spindletree Euonymus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- yoo-ON-ih-mus
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Euonymus, or Spindletree, is a genus of deciduous or evergreen flowering shrubs containing about 140 species and several cultivars. Native to East Asia, species are widely distributed in Canada and the continental United States. In nature, it is often found in mixed deciduous forests or natural areas in low woodlands. The name comes from the Greek eu-, for good, and onyma, for name, apparently applied ironically because the genus, at one time, had the bad reputation of poisoning cattle.
The shrub can be grown in a wide variety of soils, including clay, and tolerates both drought and wet soils to a degree. Fruits and seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals. Plant in a woodland naturalized area for best results.
The plant has opposite and simple leaves. On some species, the leaves provide dramatic red color in the fall and early winter and the plant is often grown as an ornamental. The flowers are small, 4-parted, and often greenish maroon in color. The flowers are followed in the fall by a reddish, pink, ivory to yellow capsule which splits to reveal orange-red seeds. The genus can spread by adventitious roots and can get out of control.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Euonymus scale is a problem with most species of this plant. It can be weedy in disturbed areas around houses and buildings. Note that some species of Euonymus (E. alatus in particular) are prohibited in some of the United States because of their invasive tendencies. 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:
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E. alatus
- E. klautschovicus
E. americanus
E. bungeanus
E. europaeus
E. fortunei
E. japonicus
- E. klautschovicus
- E. alatus, E. americanus, E. bungeanus, E. europaeus, E. fortunei, E. japonicus, E. klautschovicus
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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E. alatus
- E. klautschovicus
E. americanus
E. bungeanus
E. europaeus
E. fortunei
E. japonicus
- E. klautschovicus
- E. alatus, E. americanus, E. bungeanus, E. europaeus, E. fortunei, E. japonicus, E. klautschovicus
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Euonymus
- Family:
- Celastraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Wood was once used for making spindles for wool; hence the common name.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- East Asia
- Distribution:
- North America, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, Europe, Southeast Asia and Africa.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Foliage sometimes eaten by deer. Seeds are eaten by birds.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- Many parts of the plant are toxic to humans.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Climbing
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Medium
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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
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Capsule
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Reddish, pink, ivory to yellow capsule that splits to show orange-red seeds. Fruit can be a capsule or a berry or drupe, sometimes winged.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Solitary
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small terminal or axillary, cymes in white, red, yellow, green, or purple. Small, 4-parted, greenish maroon flowers. Disk usually present. Three to 6 sepals (3–)4–5(–6), free or united at the base, and persistent. Two to six stamens opposite the sepals, free or with filaments partly united, inserted outside, on or inside disk.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenulate
- Dentate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Depending on species, leaves can be 1/2 to 6 inches long. Leaves alternate to subopposite or opposite, sometimes clustered on short shoots, simple, usually with small stipules. Blade margins entire or toothed; venation pinnate.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Green
- Bark Description:
- Bark tends to darken with age.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Description:
- Branches are terete or 4-angled.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Hedge
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Drought
- Fire
- Problems:
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Toxic only if eaten in large quantities. Can cause vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, chills, coma, and convulsions.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Unidentified, possibly a glycoside
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems