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Euonymus europaeus

Common Spindle · European Spindletree · European Euonymus

Family CelastraceaeGenus Euonymus

Bright pink four-lobed capsules split open to show orange seeds, on leafy twigs
FruitAnRo0002CC0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Shrub, TreeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
shrub or treePlants of the World Online
Height
12-20 ft3.7-6.1 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
10-16 ft3-4.9 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Gold/Yellow, GreenExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Albania, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
3-7Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 14, 2025.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 7 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 7 days.

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    8 germinated in this phase.

  6. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  7. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  8. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  9. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 1.5 years from start to step 9. Germination happens during step 9; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

58% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Euonymus p. 43Public domain
Show the original text
Euonymus (Celastraceae). It had been found that with both E. europaeus seeds WC 7 d in detergent are 70 GA-3-40-70- 40(8%)-70(50%)-40-70(8%), 70-40-70(8%)-40-70-40-70(58%), and 40-70(7%)-40-70- 40-70-40-70-40-70(7%). DS is not tolerated and seeds of
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Euonymus p. 43. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 14, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 13, 2026.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 7 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 7 days.

  3. Gibberellic acid soak

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  6. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  7. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    8 germinated in this phase.

  8. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  9. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  10. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    8 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 8 run on after germination.

about 12 months from start to step 8. Germination happens during step 8; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

50% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Euonymus p. 43Public domain
Show the original text
Euonymus (Celastraceae). It had been found that with both E. europaeus seeds WC 7 d in detergent are 70 GA-3-40-70- 40(8%)-70(50%)-40-70(8%), 70-40-70(8%)-40-70-40-70(58%), and 40-70(7%)-40-70- 40-70-40-70-40-70(7%). DS is not tolerated and seeds of
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Euonymus p. 43. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 8, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 7 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 7 days.

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  6. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  7. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  8. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  9. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  10. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  11. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  12. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    7 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 4 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

7% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Euonymus p. 43Public domain
Show the original text
Euonymus (Celastraceae). It had been found that with both E. europaeus seeds WC 7 d in detergent are 70 GA-3-40-70- 40(8%)-70(50%)-40-70(8%), 70-40-70(8%)-40-70-40-70(58%), and 40-70(7%)-40-70- 40-70-40-70-40-70(7%). DS is not tolerated and seeds of
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Euonymus p. 43. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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