Spindle
ExplorePlants
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.
Habitat: Forests
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.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCelastralesFamilyCelastraceaeGenusEuonymus
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
1
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
Ability
Exploding Pods
Spindle has bright pink seed pods that split open to reveal orange seeds, helping birds easily spot and spread them.
Ability
Autumn Blaze
Spindle can turn its leaves a fiery red or deep purple in fall, attracting attention and making nutrients ready for next year.
Ability
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
Watch
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
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Ornamental
Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
Shrub
A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
Fruit Bearing
Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Fall Color
Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
European SpindleSpindle Treespindles
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Do not eat the berries, as they can make you feel sick.
Frequently Asked Questions
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
How is Spindle pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
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