Euonymus alatus Seeds | Winged Spindle
LATIN NAME: Euonymus alatus
COMMON NAME: Winged Spindle, Winged Euonymus, Burning Bush
Plant Profile
Known to gardeners as Winged Spindle, Euonymus alatus is a handsome, deciduous shrub in the staff-tree family, native to eastern Asia. Winged spindle is a handsome, deciduous shrub of gardens, and its fine, toothed leaves and its brilliant, crimson autumn colour have made it one of the most valued of the autumn shrubs. Mature plants top out at about Three metres. Few species give back so generously for so little effort.
Science & Biotechnology
Within the staff-tree family, Euonymus alatus is of continuing interest to researchers working on plant diversity, seed biology and the selection of improved garden forms. Winged spindle has a real and distinguished place in the research. For practical purposes the message is encouraging: generations of cultivation have produced plants of predictable, well-mannered garden character.
Uses & Benefits
In the garden, Winged Spindle earns its place in borders, containers and mixed plantings, and it also rewards growers who raise plants for cutting, drying or kitchen use. Ecologically, winged spindle is a generous shrub of the garden. Its small, greenish-yellow flowers feed bees and insects, and its small, round, orange-red capsules of orange-coated seeds feed birds, while its dense, leafy crown gives a fine cover and a shelter to the birds. It takes hold quickly and asks for no special treatment from then on.
Spindle trees are brilliant autumn ornamentals; their bark and seeds are toxic and appear only in historical external folk remedies, so they are grown for color, not use.
Growing from Seed
Seed is the natural starting point for Winged Spindle, and the process is uncomplicated. Use a loose, well-drained seed compost, sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly, and keep everything evenly moist in bright light. Pot the young plants on as they grow, harden them off gradually, and plant them into their final positions when sturdy.
Our Take
Winged Spindle repays a little patience at sowing time with plenty of garden presence later.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Winged Spindle often pair it with these related subjects: