spindle bushes

Are spindle berries poisonous?

One of the most unusual poisonous Autumn berries is the berry of the Spindle shrub (Euonymus europaeus). ... The berries contain toxic cardiac glycosides and alkaoloids. Children are attracted to the bright orange fruits, which contain toxic seeds.

How tall does a spindle tree grow?

Spindle can grow up to around 9m in height if given the optimum growing conditions, though it will not usually reach more than 3m and is often a lot smaller even when fully mature.

How fast do spindle trees grow?

Spindle hedging develops well in normal soil conditions and situations, although, it will also endure coastal positions and slightly wet sites. Euonymus europaeus has an average growth rate of about 45cm per annum. During May and June, Spindle hedging begins to flower.

How do you grow spindle trees?

Sow the seeds in pots filled with good-quality seed compost, or in a prepared seedbed outdoors. Keep them protected from mice, watered and weed free, and grow on for a year or two before planting in their final positions.

What does spindle mean?

1 : to shoot or grow into a long slender stalk. 2 : to grow to stalk or stem rather than to flower or fruit. transitive verb. 1 : to impale, thrust, or perforate on the spike of a spindle file. 2 : to make or equip (something, such as a piece of furniture) with spindles.

What is a spindle tree used for?

Spindle produces a fine-grained, easily split wood. It is not particularly durable but has been used to make spindles (hence the common name), knitting needles, skewers and toothpicks. It is also very good for carving. The charcoal produced from spindle wood is of very high quality and is used by artists.

Do birds eat spindle berries?

In the garden

As well as the many native berry-bearing species (including rowan, holly, whitebeam, spindle, dog rose, guelder rose, elder, hawthorn, honeysuckle and ivy), attractive shrubs like cotoneaster, pyracantha and berberis are especially good for a wide range of birds.

How do you prune a spindle tree?

Pruning and caring for spindle

Prune in fall or spring in order to balance the tree for evergreen species.
Best is to prune quite drastically at the end of winter for deciduous species to promote a dense, compact growth.
Avoid pruning during cold spells, especially if its below freezing.

Is euonymus fast growing?

With an average annual growth rate of 10-20cm, ideal for hedge heights of up to a metre, the variety of Euonymus hedging plants we supply are the perfect low maintenance, low growing shrubs. They simply require a quick prune in late spring in order for bushy growth to develop.

How do you propagate a Japanese spindle tree?

They propagate from cuttings, which should be taken at the end of the growth period in late summer. Cut a stem from the plant right below a node, which is the point from which a leaf or bud grows, and then replant it in a mixture like peat moss and perlite or sand.

What tree has pink berries?

Rowan trees with pink berries

These rowans have berries that change from white to pink, or from pink to white as autumn progresses. Pink Charm has perhaps the deepest pink berries, but Pink Ness, Leonard Messel and Glendoick Spire are also very attractive.

How do I propagate Euonymus?

Taking a cutting from an euonymus

Take a 10cm cutting from a new shoot, preferably in spring.
Strip the leaves off the bottom half of the shoot and score lightly with a knife.
Dip in some root hormone powder.
Place in some compost and keep damp, but not wet, at all times.
Do not plant into landscape until roots grow to about 10 cm in length.

Can you grow spindle tree from seed?

The seeds can be sown in containers or a seedbed. In a small pot or tray sow seeds thinly and cover with no more than 5mm of compost or grit. Firm gently and water.

What's another word for spindle?

In this page you can discover 32 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for spindle, like: baluster, shaft, pivot, stem, axle, axis, rod, mandrel, pin, rachis and stalk.

How does a spindle work?

A spindle provides the twist that turns fiber into yarn. When using a hand spindle, your hands let the fibers slide past each other and then let the twist catch them, a process known as "drafting." The size of the yarn is determined by how much fiber is caught in the twist.

How can you tell if berries are poisonous?

Aggregated fruits and berries are almost always edible (blackberry, raspberry, salmonberry, and thimbleberry). Single fruits on a stem are usually considered safe to eat. Plants with shiny leaves or a milky sap are considered to be poisonous.

Can birds eat cheerios?

Veterinarians have approved whole-grain cereals such as Cheerios for birds, as long as you feed the cereal in moderation. Because Cheerios is low in sugar, made of whole grains and contains no artificial colors or sweeteners, it is an acceptable bird treat.

What would eat a Robin?

Squirrels, snakes, and other birds have been known to eat robin eggs and chicks. Predators to adult robins include hawks, snakes, and cats.

When should I prune Euonymus?

Six months or so after planting, normally April time, prune the top third of the shrub away. No other complicated methods, just take a pair of shears / secateurs and cut away. This will encourage new growth from the base of the plant which will make it bush out. After that your Euonymus will look after itself.

What is pruning group1?

Pruning group 1: Light pruning. These evergreen shrubs and deciduous trees and certain deciduous shrubs need very little pruning and are best left to their own devices in most cases. They do not send out vigorous shoots that need curbing. Remove diseased, damaged congested or crossing shoots.

How do you care for euonymus?

Caring for Golden Euonymous Shrubs

They will require regular water – up to twice a week – until the root system has established. After that, a weekly watering is usually sufficient. Provide a balanced fertilizer in early spring. Use a slightly lower dose than recommended on the label to avoid burning the roots.