Euonymus europaeus seed
LATIN NAME: EUONYMUS EUROPAEUS
COMMON NAME: Spindle, European Spindle, Common Spindle
The spindle is a modest and historic shrub of the European hedgerows, and its pink fruits with their orange seeds are one of the loveliest sights of the autumn. It grows as a deciduous shrub or small tree, reaching up to six metres, with smooth, green, often four-angled twigs bearing oval, finely toothed leaves and, in the spring, small, inconspicuous, greenish-yellow flowers, followed in the autumn by the remarkable, four-lobed, pink or rose capsules which split open to reveal the brilliant orange-coated seeds, while the leaves may turn a handsome red before they fall. It is native to much of Europe, where it inhabits the edges of the forest and the hedgerows, and it is a historic shrub, for its hard, fine-grained wood was once used to make the spindles of the spinning wheel, the knitting needles and small tools.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The spindle has a genuine and growing place in historical and chemical research. It has been studied in the history of the land, since its hard, fine-grained wood was once valued for the making of spindles, knitting needles and small tools, and researchers have examined its traditional uses, while the spindle tree has drawn attention in the international heritage and craft press as a historic tree of the European hedgerow. The shrub has also been studied in chemistry and pharmacology, since the plant contains toxic compounds, and researchers have examined its content and the potential uses of its compounds, while the chemistry of the genus has been of continuing interest; it is best to treat the plant with respect and to keep it away from small children and pets. Ecologists have examined its growth and its role in the hedgerow community, where it is a historic and lovely presence.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
To grow the Spindle from seed, ecologically, the spindle is a quiet friend of the autumn hedgerow. Its pink fruits with their orange seeds feed the birds of the autumn, its leafy growth gives shelter and nesting cover, and it is a historic and lovely presence in the hedges and the forest edges of Europe, while its leaves turn a fine scarlet in the autumn sun. Its economic value is real and historic: its hard wood was once valued for spindles, knitting needles and small tools, and its history has drawn attention in the international heritage and craft press, while the shrub is also a handsome plant of the hedge and the wildlife garden. The plant is toxic throughout, so it is best kept for the eyes only, grown for the birds and the beauty of its fruits rather than for the plate, with the berries kept well away from children and pets. To start the spindle along, soak the seeds, give them a long, cool, damp spell in the fridge, then sow them in pots of moist, free-draining compost and keep them lightly watered.
soak the seeds and give them a long, cool, damp spell in the fridge, then sow them in pots of moist, free-draining compost, and keep the young spindles lightly watered.
LATIN NAME: Euonymus europaeus
COMMON NAME: Spindle, European Spindle, Common Spindle
The spindle is a modest and historic shrub of the European hedgerows, and its pink fruits with their orange seeds are one of the loveliest sights of the autumn. It grows as a deciduous shrub or small tree, reaching up to six metres, with smooth, green, often four-angled twigs bearing oval, finely toothed leaves and, in the spring, the small, inconspicuous, greenish-yellow flowers, followed, in the autumn, by the remarkable, four-lobed, pink or rose capsules, which split open to reveal the brilliant orange-coated seeds, while the leaves may turn a handsome red in the autumn. It is a species of the staff-tree family, native to much of Europe, where it inhabits the edges of the forest and the hedgerows, and it is a historic shrub, whose hard wood was once used for the making of the spindles of the spinning wheel.
The spindle belongs to the staff-tree family, Celastraceae, and it is a species of flowering plant native to much of Europe, where it inhabits the edges of the forest and the hedgerows. It is known as the spindle, the European spindle or the common spindle, and it is prized for its pink fruits with their orange seeds, while its hard wood was once used for the spindles of the spinning wheel.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The spindle has a genuine and growing place in both historical and chemical research. It has been studied in the history of the land, since its hard, fine-grained wood was once valued for the making of the spindles of the spinning wheel, the knitting needles and the small tools, and researchers have examined its traditional uses, while the spindle tree has drawn attention in the international heritage and craft press as a historic tree of the European hedgerow. The shrub has also been studied in chemistry and pharmacology, since the plant contains toxic compounds, and researchers have examined its content and the potential uses of its compounds, while the chemistry of the genus has been of continuing interest, and it is best to treat the plant with respect and to keep it away from the small children and the pets. The species has also been studied in ecology, since it is a shrub of the European hedgerows, and its growth and its role in the hedgerow community have been examined, while its value to the wildlife has been examined. For a shrub of such history and such beauty, the spindle has a rich and growing record of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Ecologically, the spindle is a generous shrub of the European hedgerows. Its pink fruits with their orange seeds feed the birds of the autumn, and its leafy growth gives shelter, while it is a historic and lovely presence in the hedges and the forest edges of Europe.
Its economic value is real and historic. Its hard wood was once valued for the spindles, the knitting needles and the small tools, and its history has drawn attention in the international heritage and craft press, while the shrub is also a handsome plant of the hedge and the wildlife garden. Please note that the plant is toxic, so it is best to grow it for the birds and the beauty of its fruits and to keep the berries away from the small children and the pets. For a grower, the spindle is an easy and historic shrub, and for a gardener it brings pink fruits with orange seeds in the autumn. The seeds need a spell of cold and a little patience — soak them, then keep them in damp compost in the fridge for about three months before sowing them in a pot of moist, free-draining compost, and theyll sprout slowly, growing on into a historic, fruit-bearing shrub.
Euonymus europaeus is a species of flowering plant in the family Celastraceae, A large deciduous shrub native to much of Europe, where it inhabits the edges of forest hedges and gentle slopes It tends to thrive on nutrient rich chalky and salt poor soils. It is also tough and trouble free and can reach a height of 30 feet though it can also be kept trimmed to a shrub size. A native of European hedgerows from which the wood was traditionally used for making spindles. This plant really comes into its own in autumn and winter when its dark green leaves turn blazing scarlet. The summer flowers are followed by orange pink winged fruit which remain long after the leaves have fallen. Plant in view of the house where its vibrant display can be appreciated. The autumn color is spectacular in full sun but will grow reasonably well in partial shade.