Spindle

An attractive shrub which is particularly distinctive in winter when the bright pink berries hang off the leafless twigs.

What other names does it have?

Can also be known as	Prickwood Skewer wood Skiver Pincushion shrub
Generic name	Spindle
Latin name	Euonymus europaea
Family name	Staff tree
Latin family name	Celastraceae

What type of tree is it?

Is it a broadleaf or conifer?	It is a broadleaf
Does it lose its leaves in autumn?	Yes, it is deciduous

Species description:

Average height	6-9m

Leaf

Description	The leaves tiny sharp teeth/serrations along the edges. They are shiny and slightly waxy to the touch
Shape	Oval
Size	Up to 8cm
Colour	Green
Leaf bud	Conical green buds
Leaf stalk	Short stalk
Leaf arrangement	Opposite

Flower, seed, and fruit

Type of flower	Clustered/grouped flowers
Flowering season	Early summer
Tree/flower sex	Both sexes
Fruit colour	Bright pink on the outside and like a miniture pumpkin. The seeds inside are birght orange!
Type of seed body	Berry
Seeds dispersed by	Wildlife

Bark and twig

Bark description	Deep green with light brown sinuous marks. In old age the colour changes to grey-brown
Twig Description	Thin, straight twigs that are deep green in colour

What other trees are similar?

Can easily be confused with?	Purging buckthorn- this has more rounded leaves and black fruit

Where is it usually found?

Is it native or non-native to the British Isles?	Native
Where is its natural range?	Britain and Ireland
Preferred soil type or environmental conditions?	Prefers rich soils and is most common in ancient woods and hedges and chalk scrub
What is its British conservation status?	Frequent

Additional information

Is any part of the tree poisonous?

The berries are a strong laxative/purgative

Human uses of tree and timber

Spindle gets it's name from one of the uses of the twigs- as the spindles used to spin raw wool (the wool is wrapped around the twig) . This is because the twigs are straight and smooth yet heavy. The twigs were also used for skewers, toothpicks, pegs and knitting needles (hence some of its other names). In the past the berries were used as a laxative or baked and powdered and used as a treatment for headlice

Usually a bush

Tiny teeth and flowers

Illustrations supplied by
Collins

BritishTrees