The spindle bush can grow up to three meters high. The growth is strong and just as bulky. The side branches are somewhat finer and protrude almost at right angles to the main branch. The root system is shallow and very dense. The first flowers can be seen in May and June. White to a delicate shade of green, they enchant people and animals. Flies in particular pounce on the crawling spindle. In summer the shrub changes color. The leaves become greener in summer and until autumn the green turns into a bright red. Orange tones and yellow tones also emerge. Only then do the leaves fall and begin to grow again next year. The fruits can be seen in September. They are pink to red capsule fruits containing the seed. The capsule fruits are inedible and even very poisonous for humans and are a feast for birds.
Sowing and propagation of the spindle bush
The spindle bush can be sown or you can use young plants from the nursery. Sowing is less recommended as it can sometimes take a few years until a real bush has developed. It requires a cool temperature to germinate, so it should be sown in autumn or spring. If you purchase ready-made plants, you can also plant them in the ground in autumn or spring. The plant can also be propagated very well through cuttings. To do this, remove a few cuttings from the mother plant. Remove the lower leaves and plant the cuttings in nutrient-rich soil. The best time to plant cuttings is midsummer.
Plant spindle bush, creeping spindle
- The creeping spindle has no special requirements and is very easy to care for in terms of location.
- Sun, partial shade and even shade are optimal places for the spindle bush.
- However, keep in mind that the flowering may diminish in the shade!
- Wintering also makes more sense in a place on the south side.
- The planting distance of the plants should be at least half of the planned height.
- If the shrub can grow to a height of 2 meters, you should plant the plants at a distance of 1 meter from each other.
- The shrub grows about 10 to 20 cm per year and is one of the moderately growing plants.
Repotting spindle bush
The creeping spindle can also be planted well in a pot. You should just make sure that the root system has enough space. Keep in mind that it is a shallow-rooted plant that requires a lot of space in terms of length and width. Repotting is necessary if you notice that the roots are protruding over the pot. However, it is recommended to leave the plant outdoors.
Care tips for spindle bushes
Diseases are not uncommon with the spindle bush. The creeping spindle is particularly often attacked by pests such as the Pfaffenhütchen web moth. So make sure that the shrub is in permeable soil where no waterlogging can occur. The plant only needs water if the soil has a dry top layer.
Location
The spindle bush can actually be planted anywhere. However, keep in mind that a shady location will inhibit growth and also flower growth. A sunny to semi-shady place is therefore very suitable for the creeping spindle. The creeping spindle is also often used for gate entrances or archways around the garden. Just make sure that the soil is permeable. If there is no permeable soil, work the soil by digging a deep hole and filling it with enough clay. You can then place the plant on this.
Pouring
The spindle bush is very easy to care for and does not require much care. The plant should only be watered when the top layer of soil is dry. If you keep the plant in a pot, you need to water it daily in summer to prevent it from drying out.
Fertilize
The creeping spindle needs some compost every now and then so that the soil becomes nutrient-rich again. However, you can avoid fertilizing the plant with artificial fertilizers.
Cutting spindle bushes
Pruning the spindle bush is necessary every now and then to give it the desired shape. Autumn or spring is the best time for cutting. You can also cut the spindle bush at other times when annoying branches need to be removed. As the shrub grows tall, be careful not to block drains and gutters. Remove all lush branches and also parts of new shoots. It is also advisable to keep removing wilted leaves.
Overwintering the creeping spindle
The frost and cold don't bother the shrub at all. So there are no special measures that need to be taken for wintering. The only thing is to cover the ground so that the frost does not damage the roots. A layer of leaves, compost or sawdust is suitable for this.
Diseases and pests
If the shrub is watered too much, waterlogging can weaken the creeping spindle and cause fungal infestation. Other pests rarely occur on a he althy plant. That's why the shrub is considered very robust and an optimal plant for a beginner.
What you should know about spindle bushes and creeping spindles in brief
If you want to attach an archway or a tendril to the facade, the creeping spindle is perfect. If the ivy seems too green and too leafy for you, you can achieve a good tendril with the multi-plant. With a growth height of 10 to 20 cm per year, the shrub does not require any particularly complex care and is ideal for gardening beginners but also for professionals.
Profile
- Height 0, 2 – 6 m
- normal ground
- sunny or partially shaded location
- summer or evergreen
The shrubs of the genus Euonymus are divided into two groups: deciduous species and varieties that are planted for their colorful fruits and colorful autumn foliage, and evergreen forms that are well suited as hedges or ground cover.
Popular species and varieties
Euonymus alatus is a fairly slow-growing, deciduous, spindle shrub up to 3m high, whose branches have conspicuous cork strips. Its small, inconspicuous, green-yellow flowers appear from late spring to early summer and are followed by purple fruits with scarlet seeds. The crimson leaves turn bright dark red in autumn.
Euonymus europaea, the Pfaffenhütchen, is deciduous and grows 2 – 6m high. Its fruits – pink-red capsules that release orange seeds when they open – make the Pfaffenhütchen an ornamental shrub. The fruits are poisonous. The Albus variety is characterized by white fruits and 'Red Cascade' by large, pink fruits.
Euonymus fortunei is the parent form of many evergreen varieties that are suitable as ground cover or for greening walls. It is a prostrate - ascending spindle shrub that climbs with clinging roots. Fortunei is very popular.
Enonymus japonica - also called Japanese spindle bush - is an evergreen shrub, stands out due to its dense foliage and reaches a height of 3 - 4.5m and a width of 1.5m. Without winter protection, it only thrives in areas with a mild climate.
Euonymus latifolius, the broad-leaved spindle bush, is a deciduous species up to 5m high. The medium green leaves turn red in autumn. In late summer, pink fruits with orange seeds hang from the branches.
