Spindle tree identification
The Spindle Euonymous europaeus is a bushy tree native to Europe, including Britain, Turkey and the Caucasus. It is common in hedges and woods on lime-rich soils and has been planted in many gardens. Its wood is hard and fine-grained and was used to make spindles for wool spinning and butchers skewers. Many parts of the tree are poisonous, especially the fruit. It is a member of the Euonymus genus, from which a huge number of ornamental garden plants have been developed.
Spindle tree identification – opposite blackthorn-like leaves, tiny flowers in spring and unique 4-lobed pink fruit capsules in autumn. The small white flowers appear in May. It has a very unusual looking fruit which is in the form of orange berries in a 4-lobed pink capsule. The leaves are similar to Blackthorn but paired and opposite.
A Spindle tree in a churchyard in September.
The leaves are Blackthorn-shaped but arranged opposite one another on the shoot. Blackthorn leaves are alternate.
Leaves and fruit in September
The bark of an old tree is ridged
The flower is tiny. Each flower has 4 yellow-green petals and 4 upright green stamens tipped with yellow anthers
In some years the trees are heavily loaded with fruit in late October. It has a very unusual looking fruit which is in the form of orange berries in a 4-lobed pink capsule.
Fruit at the end of September
Orange ‘berries’ sit inside the pink capsule. Technically the ‘berries’ are arils, like a Yew ‘berry’.
Tree in March
Lateral buds are small, green and opposite
The buds are pointed
An empty fruit capsule in January