Is it deer resistant?

It has moderate resistance but may be browsed if other food is scarce.

Can I grow it in a pot?

It grows well in large containers but requires consistent watering.

Plant guide

Spindle.

Euonymus europaeus

Pronounced yoo-ON-ih-mus yoo-ro-PAY-us

Also known as Common Spindle, European Spindletree, European euonymus, European spindle-tree

The spindle is a lovely deciduous shrub known for its brilliant autumn foliage and unique, colorful fruit. It adds a wonderful pop of color to the garden as the seasons change. You will find it is quite hardy and adapts well to many different soil types.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Deciduous shrub
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 10 to 20 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 7
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

Plant this shrub in a spot with good drainage to keep the roots happy. Watch for signs of aphids or scale on the leaves during the growing season. Pruning helps maintain a nice shape and encourages denser growth.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged.
Feeding: Apply a balanced fertilizer once in early spring.
Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring to remove dead wood.
Repotting: Repot only if the plant becomes root bound in its container.
Soil: Well draining, chalky, or loamy soil
Soil pH: Neutral to alkaline
Temperature: -30 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 30 to 50 years.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Stunted growth despite regular feeding.
Soil drying out very rapidly.

Safety

People: The plant contains cardiac glycosides and alkaloids that cause severe gastrointestinal distress and heart issues if eaten.
Pets: This plant is considered toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: The bright, colorful berries are highly attractive to children but are poisonous if swallowed.
Contact allergens: Contact with the sap may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The pollen is not considered a significant allergen.
Edibility: All parts of this plant are toxic to humans and pets if ingested.

How to identify it

Vibrant pink or red lobed fruit
Bright orange seeds inside fruit
Opposite, lance shaped green leaves
Brilliant red autumn leaf color
Four angled green twigs

Height: 2 to 6m
Spread: 1.5 to 4m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: green, yellow, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: pink, red, orange, Autumn

Problems to watch for

Euonymus ScaleCommon
Powdery MildewCommon
AphidsUncommon
Leaf SpotUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, cuttings
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: No special protection is needed as it is fully hardy. Simply mulch the base in late autumn to retain soil moisture.
In containers: It grows well in large pots of at least 40 liters, provided the soil remains moist.

Seed

1. Collect ripe berries in autumn.
2. Clean the seeds of all pulp.
3. Sow immediately in pots outdoors to allow for natural cold stratification.

Plant in groups of three to create a dense thicket that provides better shelter for local birds.

Grows well with

Common Hazel · They share similar woodland edge habitat requirements.
English Ivy · It provides a contrasting evergreen ground cover beneath the deciduous shrub.

Similar species

Winged Spindle · It is a related species known for its dramatic corky wings on the stems.

Science

Family: Celastraceae
Genus: Euonymus
Order: Celastrales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe and Western Asia.
Conservation: It is considered invasive in some parts of North America where it escapes cultivation into woodlands.

It thrives in woodland edges and hedgerows where it benefits from partial shade and well drained soil.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, bird food source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ornamental shrub, hedging, wildlife garden

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 5/9
Temperature: 4/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it deer resistant?: It has moderate resistance but may be browsed if other food is scarce.
Can I grow it in a pot?: It grows well in large containers but requires consistent watering.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Euonymus comes from the Greek word for lucky, while europaeus denotes its native European range.

Good to know

The common name spindle tree refers to the historical use of its hard wood for making textile spindles.
The fruit capsules split open to reveal bright orange seeds that birds love to eat.
In autumn, the foliage turns a brilliant, fiery red color.
It is native to much of Europe and Western Asia.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

Keep your spindle growing

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.