Super-Spindle

The winged, corky branches of Euonymus alatus (spindle) make it one of the most interesting of shrubs, the branching habit is prolific and it will make a dense shrub in time. Supposedly slow growing, yet I have never found this to be the case to the extent it is made out. In America this Chinese native has become somewhat popular as a hedging plant, I can imagine this to look stunning during autumn when the colours are quite magnificent and long lasting as you will see from today's image. Even the reddish-purple fruits are highly ornamental when they split open to reveal the bright orange-coated seeds.

There are two forms of the same species, 'Euonymus alatus' and 'Euonymus alatus compactus'. Please do not think there is little difference between the two (providing you trust your nurseryman to know the provenance of his stock) because as the image shows, the two plants at the same age of 5 years old are markedly different. A good plant I intend to use as a hedge somewhere before too long.