Side by side
Japanese spindle or spindle? How to tell them apart
Euonymus japonicus · Euonymus europaeus
How to tell them apart – Japanese spindle: evergreen shrub with thick, glossy, scalloped leaves on green twigs, widely used for hedges on the coast; spindle: deciduous, with thinner, finely toothed leaves and large pink fruits.
How do you recognise them?
- Japanese spindle
- Evergreen shrub with thick, glossy, scalloped leaves on green twigs; widely used for hedges on the coast.
- Spindle
- Shrub with square green twigs and striking pink fruits with orange seeds.
- Compared with Japanese spindle: deciduous, with thinner, finely toothed leaves and large pink fruits.
| Japanese spindle | Spindle | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | Opposite, 3–7 cm, oval to elliptic, bluntly toothed, thick, leathery and very glossy; often variegated, with a yellow or white edge. | Opposite, oval to lance-shaped, 5–8 cm, finely toothed; red autumn colour. |
| Flowering | Inconspicuous, greenish-white flowers in June–July (June–July). | Inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers in May (May–June). |
| Fruit | Pink capsules with orange seeds, rare in our climate; poisonous. | Pink, four-lobed capsules that split open to reveal orange seeds (autumn); poisonous. |
| Bark | Green, slightly square twigs. | Young twigs green and square, often with corky ridges. |
| Shape and height | Shrub, 2–4 m | Shrub, 2–5 m |
| Site | Sun to shade, any garden soil, normal | Sun or partial shade, any garden soil, normal |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted | Yes |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | – | Yes, for butterflies and birds |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Yes, take care with children and pets | Yes, take care with children and pets |
| Pruning months | May–June and August–September | November–March |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Japanese spindle is poisonous to people and pets: take care with children and animals.
- Spindle is poisonous to people and pets: take care with children and animals.
- Spindle is native: it feeds more insects and birds than a non-native species. If in doubt, choose this one.
Read on
- Plant profile: Japanese spindle
- Plant profile: Spindle
- Japanese spindle: when and how to prune
- Spindle: when and how to prune
- Identification key
Also looks like
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.