Euonymus europaeus Seeds | Spindle
LATIN NAME: Euonymus europaeus
COMMON NAME: Spindle, European Spindle, Common Spindle
Plant Profile
Euonymus europaeus, better known as Spindle, is a deciduous shrub in the family Celastraceae, native to much of Europe. Mature plants top out at about Six metres. Bees find the flowers quickly, and that pollinator traffic is a garden benefit in its own right. These traits together are what have kept the plant in gardens for so long.
Science & Biotechnology
Botanists studying Celastraceae regularly include Euonymus europaeus in comparative work, and the species also appears in horticultural trials aimed at gardeners and growers. Species has also been studied in ecology, since it is a shrub of the European hedgerows, and its growth and its role in hedgerow community have been examined, while its value to wildlife has been examined. Raising it from seed today is a matter of ordinary good practice rather than specialist skill.
Uses & Benefits
In the garden, 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, spindle is a generous shrub of the European hedgerows. Its pink fruits with their orange seeds feed birds of autumn, and its leafy growth gives shelter, while it is a historic and lovely presence in hedges and forest edges of Europe. Its economic value is real and historic. Once it has settled, the workload drops to almost nothing.
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
Sow fresh seed of Spindle under ordinary good conditions. Sow the seeds evenly over the surface and cover lightly in a loose, well-drained seed compost, keep the sowing evenly moist, and give the pot or tray bright light. Prick the seedlings out once they are large enough to handle, grow them on in bright light, and plant out when conditions allow.
Our Take
Spindle repays a little patience at sowing time with plenty of garden presence later.
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