Even if the euonymus is a poisonous plant, it is still very popular in the garden. Mainly because it's so easy to care for.
The spindle tree (Euonymus europaeus) is one of the spindle trees and is also known as the common spindle tree. The deciduous shrubs reach heights of about three meters. Older plants can assume a tree-like habit and even grow up to six meters tall.
The euonymus is a plant that is easy to care for, but all parts of it are poisonous and was voted poisonous plant of the year in 2006. The plant is hardy and a popular ornamental tree. Not only the summer blossom is attractive, the plant also impresses with its colorful fruits and the atmospheric foliage color in autumn.
Use a euonymus against vermin?
Excavation finds in pile-dwelling villages made it clear that the plant was already common thousands of years ago and was probably also used as a crop. A story by the monk Caesarius has been handed down from the middle of the 13th century. In his "wonder book" the seed was mentioned as a means of repelling vermin.
Otherwise, the plant, also known as Pfaffenkapperl or Pfaffenkapperl, plays a rather subordinate role in traditional popular belief. Planting of wayside shrines can be observed in many places in Bavaria. This is most likely due to the spiritual equivalent of the plant's name.
In the past, the plant was also important for folk medicine. The effect of the euonymus is described as diuretic, heart-strengthening and wound-healing. Plant extracts were used against headaches, wounds, cardiac insufficiency and as a laxative.
The Spread of the Spindle Tree
The spindle tree is mainly native to Europe. It is mainly found in Central Europe. In a northerly direction, the distribution area extends to southern Scotland, southern Sweden and Ireland. In the south, the plants are distributed as far as Sicily or northern Spain. The entire range extends along the northern hemisphere. The plants mainly grow inEast Asia and the Himalayas.
The plant is also found in the mountainous regions of the Caucasus. The plants can usually be found up to about 800 meters above sea level. In the Allgäu Alps, spindle trees have even been found up to 1,100 meters above sea level. There are about 180 spindle tree species worldwide.
The euonymus is poisonous!
All parts of the spindle tree are poisonous. The most toxic part of the plant is the seeds. The occurrence of cardenolides and alkaloids is particularly high there. The bark contains tannins, phlobaphenes and bitter substances.
Anyone who eats the seeds of the spindle tree has to reckon with nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting. Depending on the amount consumed and general constitution, heart muscle weakness, liver swelling or circulatory collapse can also result. Children who are attracted to the fruit are particularly at risk. Death can occur if consumed in excess. The insidious thing: it can take several hours before the first signs of poisoning appear.
When does the euonymus bloom?
Between May and June, the spindle tree is in full bloom. The inflorescences appear on the inflorescence stem up to three centimeters long. An inflorescence can contain up to six flowers and attract beneficial bees. If the orange fruits hanging on threads are released, magpies, thrushes or robins will gratefully accept the food. It is not for nothing that the plant is also known as "robin bread".
How to plant the euonymus correctly
Cubbies are undemanding plants that make few demands on their environment. The plant gets along with any normal garden soil and also tolerates rather heavy soil. The plant forms dense fine roots, which do not penetrate too deeply into the soil. Therefore, underplanting is not recommended. Group plantings are beneficial. The plants can pollinate each other and thus bloom all the more abundantly.
❍ Location:
In nature, the euonymus grows on the edges of forests or in sparse deciduous forests. Atmospheric compositions are created in the immediate vicinity of privet, dogwood or honeysuckle. Basically, the spindle tree can be at home in any location. The only enemy of the plant is darkness. If the plants are in the shade, the leaves appear less colorful and conspicuous. The euonymus should therefore always be bright. A sunny location will not only ensure rich flowering, the color of the leaves will also appear in theautumn more impressive. Here again the ideal location in keywords:
- light
- lots of sun
- warm
- Partial shade possible, but then growth and flowering are reduced
❍ Bottom:
The euonymus is also not very demanding when it comes to the substrate. It generally prefers loose soil. The plant gets less if the soil is too heavy and too moist. The blossom shows whether you have chosen the right location. The soil should be nutrient-rich and calcareous. Since the plant does not tolerate waterlogging, you should always choose a soil that is dry rather than too moist. To create a permeable soil, you can add sand to the clay soil. Here is the ideal substrate again in keywords:
- dry soil
- Avoid waterlogging
- calcareous, humus-rich substrate
- sandy bottom
- loose soil
- low-s alt soil
❍ Plants:
Deciduous varieties should generally always be planted in winter. Evergreen species, on the other hand, in spring. Since the plants grow about 20 centimeters a year, the planting distance should be about half of the planned growth height. The best way to plant is as follows:
❶ First of all, you have to water the root ball sufficiently.
❷ Then dig out the planting hole generously.
❸ Next, mix in humus as fertilizer.
❹ Finally plant the plants and gently pat the soil down.
❺ Always water generously during the growth phase.
You can also plant euonymus in pots. However, the flat root requires sufficient space in the planter. If the roots start to protrude from the pot, you should repot the euonymus.
How to water the euonymus correctly
The plant tolerates prolonged drought, but you should not neglect watering, especially if rapid growth is desired. If the upper layer of soil has dried up, watering should take place. During longer periods of drought, the plant will indicate that it is thirsty by drooping leaves. Always water with hard water and avoid standing water. A layer of mulch protects the soil from drying out.
If you cultivate the plant in a pot, daily watering is necessary. From the beginning of September you can reduce watering.
How to properly fertilize the spindle tree
The spindle tree does not need any artificial fertilizer. With particularly lime-poor soils you can use theImprove soil quality with commercially available liquid fertilizer during the growth phase. You can add the fertilizer to the irrigation water every two weeks. As a rule, the plant is sufficiently supplied with nutrients if you work compost or horn shavings into the soil as a natural long-term fertilizer in spring and autumn.
Is it necessary to cut back the plant?
This depends on the space available and the desired growth height. No pruning is necessary if you can tolerate the wide and bulky growth. If you want to shape the shrub or cultivate it as a hedge, regular trimming is essential. In any case, you should remove annoying branches regularly. A pruning can stimulate the growth of the plants and is a good idea in spring or before winter. It is better to carry out a radical pruning in spring than in autumn.
Important:
The flowering takes place on two year old wood. If you don't take this into account when pruning, you will have to reckon with fewer flowers.
How to breed the euonymus?
❍ Propagation by seeds:
To gain seeds, you must harvest the fruit before it pops open. Then you should keep them in a dry place. Then the seed pods will soon open. You must then remove the seeds from the seed coat. After that you can sow them immediately. If this is not possible, the seeds can be stored in peat or sand for several months at temperatures close to freezing. After sowing, it can often take more than ten months before the first seedlings appear.
❍ Propagation by cuttings:
Propagation by cuttings should be preferred to sowing, as this method is crowned with more success. You can cut the shoots in early summer. The length should be about twelve centimeters. You should remove flowers or fruit buds and shorten the leaves by 2/3. Then grow the cuttings in potting soil and water them regularly. About a quarter of a year later, successful propagation is rewarded with the first new shoots. The plants can now go outside, but need protection from leaves or twigs in the first winter.
What should be considered when overwintering?
Mature plants are hardy and will survive severe frosts. Young plants are more vulnerable and should be protected accordingly. Potted plants also need a sheltered winter location. But it's better if you bring them indoors.
Keep a euonymus as a bonsai - how it works
Although the plant is very suitable as a bonsai, the trade only corresponds to this to a limited extent. In a bright outdoor location, however, the bonsai will develop well and convince with rich flowering and attractive autumn colors. The bonsai from local spindle tree species is even hardy and tolerates temperatures down to -20 degrees.
If you want to get your bonsai in shape, you should wire new shoots early. The wood quickly reaches a certain hardness and the shoots can then no longer be bent without breaking. The plant grows quickly and can be trimmed at any time.
It makes sense to repot the euonymus every two to three years. At the latest when the fibrous roots protrude from the bonsai pot, it is time for a new container. When repotting you have to cut back the roots right away.
Detecting and combating diseases and pests
The plant is generally quite robust. However, it does not tolerate waterlogging. It weakens the plant, making it vulnerable to fungal attack. However, the plant can be kept largely he althy by choosing a location appropriate to the species and taking appropriate care measures. However, there are some pests and diseases that you should be on the lookout for, as infestations are occasionally seen.
❍ Felt gall mite:
These pests nest under the leaves. There they feed themselves by sucking the cell juice. The underside of the leaves is covered with a white coating and the tops of the leaves also lose color and appear yellowed and pale. Extensive infestation is indicated by early leaf fall. As a rule, however, the felt gall mite is harmless and no measures are required to combat it.
❍ Scale Insects:
An infestation with scale insects is far more difficult to control. Scale insects can be seen with the naked eye. The infestation shows itself in the form of round, brownish elevations and white, worm-like processes. In the case of a severe infestation, only radical pruning will help. Extremely infested plants should be completely cut back. However, you can scrape the scale insects off the leaves if they are mildly infested.
❍ Spindle Tree Moth:
The spindle moth infests the bush relatively frequently. The eggs are laid on the branches. The caterpillars overwinter in the branches and infest the leaves after they have sprouted in May. In summer they then cover the whole plant with a web. In Julythe robbers pupate and after about two weeks the moths, which are only about two centimeters in size, hatch.
Control is made more difficult by the fact that the infestation is usually not recognized in time. If the webs become visible, the entire plant is usually infested. You can collect the caterpillars or remove them with a hard jet of water. You can also cut back the plant. However, the pruning waste does not belong in the compost. You must dispose of them in an airtight container with the household waste.