PLANT OF THE MONTH: Spindle

Scientific Name: Euonymus europaeus

Habitat: Spindle is a native tree to the UK and much of Europe. It is found most commonly on the edges of forests and in hedges, scrub and hedgerows. It thrives in chalky soils and is less common in Scotland. Spindle is an ancient-woodland indicator.

Description: Spindle is a small, deciduous tree that typically grows to 5m. It can reach 10m in rare cases and can live for more than 100 years. The bark and twigs are deep green, becoming darker with age, and have light brown, corky markings. The leaves are simple, deep green, waxy and with serrated edges.

Spindle trees flower in May/June; flowers are small and pale green/white with four very distinct petals like a star. The flowers grow in clusters and develop into bright pink fruits with large visible bright orange seeds, which look a bit like popcorn and are ripe in November/December.

Value to wildlife: Spindle leaves are eaten by the caterpillars of the spindle ermine moth and the holly blue butterfly. The flowers are rich in nectar so good for pollinators in general, including hoverflies. The seeds and fruits are nutritious for birds.

Traditional and medicinal uses: Spindle timber is pale, hard and dense. In the past it was used to make ‘spindles’ for spinning and holding wool (hence its name), as well as skewers, toothpicks, pegs and knitting needles. Today, spindle timber is used to make high-quality charcoal for artists. The fruits can be boiled in water to produce a yellow dye.  

Both the leaves and fruit are toxic to humans – the berries having a laxative effect. The fruits were traditionally baked and powdered, and used to treat head lice or mange in cattle.

In the middle ages it was thought that if Spindle trees flowered early, there was likely to be an outbreak of plague on the way.

Sources: Woodland Trust, Guardian Country Diaries