Spindle (Euonymus europaea)

Don’t mistake this poison beauty in your hedgerow. It’s always been one of my favourites; it’s something to do with those seed pods on display!

The spindle tree is a native deciduous tree and it can live for more than 100 years.

The spindle is an excellent food source for the caterpillars of moths and holly blue butterfly. Loved by aphids and their predators, including hoverflies, ladybirds and lacewings, as well as the house sparrow and other species of bird.

The flowers are a rich source of nectar and pollen late in the year.

ALL PARTS, especially the fruits and seeds, are POISONOUS.