Blooming Times: Bonfire Bright

Autumn sunlight on spindle leaves is a sight that’s impossible to forget, says Flo Whitaker – who also reckons it’s impossible to find a more characterful, easy-going tree...

‘Spindles’, (Euonymus europaeus) are deciduous, hardy and long-lived small trees. They are native to the British Isles and are usually found in hedgerows and at woodland edges, where they hide in plain sight for most of the year. Come autumn, their leaves erupt into glorious hues that can, literally, stop you in your tracks. Most astonishing of all are their fruits; comprising bubble-gum pink exteriors that split to reveal neon orange seeds within. Although spindle fruits are toxic to us, wildlife gorge on them, along with the nutrient-rich tiny white flowers that appear in spring.

Most trees ask for humus-rich conditions, but undemanding spindles persevere in the poorest situations and are unfussy regarding soil type. They are content in full sun or light shade. Exposed locations seldom bother them, as their leaves have a waxy coating which protects from desiccating winds and salty air.

Newly-planted spindles have a galloping growth habit and make a substantial canopy in just a few seasons. Like acers, they can appear pleasingly aged and characterful well before their time, but, after a rapid start, ever-obliging spindles dramatically slow down, making them easy to control. A mature spindle seldom exceeds 5 metres – and may take many years to do so. However, if required, spindles can be winter-pruned. Always take a considered approach to tree-pruning; it’s often best to stagger the job over several years, rather than getting scissor-happy with one extreme ‘haircut’. Spindles tolerate the removal of their lower branches, which allows for springtime lovelies such as snowdrops, aconites and primroses to be planted underneath. As the spindle comes into leaf, these early-flowerers will be entering a dormant phase and won’t object to the increasing shade. Apart from wild E. europaeus, there are a few varieties specifically bred to have multi-stemmed shrubby habits, which may be more suitable if space is limited.

Spindles produce a hard, close-grained timber that rarely splinters. It was historically used to make thread spindles, bobbins, knitting needles, skewers and pegs. Spindle trees were also culturally significant. Symbolic references pertaining to the threads and woven tapestry of life greatly resonated with our ancestors, while spindle’s annual colour-changing performance heralded new beginnings; (with crops harvested and food preserved for winter, autumn was considered the start of the new agricultural year.)

Spindle wood has long been in demand for the manufacture of superior-grade artists’ charcoal. When crushed into a fine powder, spindle charcoal was also a key component of gunpowder. As you stand and contemplate spindles’ fiery colours, thoughts of crackling bonfires, sparklers and the gunpowder plot easily spring to mind. In Guy Fawkes’s time, spindles would have been familiar to almost everyone, but, alas, these remarkable little trees have slipped from our consciousness. They should be better known – and grown.