# Spindle (*Euonymus europaeus*) The spindle is a lovely shrub with bright green leaves and colorful berries. In the fall, its leaves turn beautiful shades of yellow and pink, making it a pretty sight in gardens and parks. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** European Spindle, Spindle Tree, spindles ![Spindle](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426256/objects/2185.jpg) ## Appearance The Spindle is a deciduous shrub with green leaves that turn vibrant red or deep purple in autumn. Its most striking feature is the bright pink, four-lobed fruits that split open to reveal brilliant orange seeds, resembling tiny lanterns. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Celastrales - **Family:** Celastraceae - **Genus:** Euonymus ## Interesting facts - Its name 'Spindle' comes from its wood being used to make wool-spinning tools! - Spindle wood is so dense it was once used for making charcoal and even piano keys! - The vibrant orange seeds are a favorite snack for many birds, despite being toxic to humans. - Watch out! The berries look yummy but are poisonous if eaten by people. ## Special abilities - **Exploding Pods:** Spindle has bright pink seed pods that split open to reveal orange seeds, helping birds easily spot and spread them. - **Autumn Blaze:** Spindle can turn its leaves a fiery red or deep purple in fall, attracting attention and making nutrients ready for next year. - **Tough Timber:** Spindle has incredibly hard wood that was historically used to make fine tools and spindles for spinning wool. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-600 cm - **Spread:** 200-400 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Blackbird (*Turdus merula*) — Eats the orange seeds, helping to disperse them. - **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits the small green flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Eaten by:** Spindle Ermine Moth (*Yponomeuta cagnagella*) — Larvae feed on the leaves, sometimes defoliating the plant. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not eat the berries, as they can make you feel sick. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Spindle? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Spindle? 300-600 cm ### How wide does Spindle spread? 200-400 cm ### How big are the flowers on Spindle? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Spindle bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is Spindle edible? No ### Is Spindle toxic? Moderate ### What is Spindle's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Fort Revere Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-revere-park) — US · State Park - [Chenango County Courthouse District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chenango-county-courthouse-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Zoo de Lunaret](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-de-lunaret) — Occitania, FR · Zoo - [Botanischer Garten der Universität Osnabrück](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/botanical-garden-university-osnabruck) — Niedersachsen, DE · Park [View all places to see Spindle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/spindle) ## Watch - [Play video: Spindle](https://www.snappit.app/videos/spindle) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=SXM3aHaHjc0) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Spindle: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spindle)