Many people only know the euonymus because of the eye-catching fruits. Before these emerge, tiny flowers develop. They are so inconspicuous and yet have an important meaning. With the right choice of soil and suitable care measures, you can promote flowering.
The spindle bush flowers rather inconspicuously
Look
Spindle trees develop inconspicuous flowers that are hermaphroditic. They consist of four green-colored sepals and are no longer than a millimeter. The four petals grow up to five millimeters long. They are greenish to white in color. The center of the flower shimmers greenish. The individual flowers are in groups of two to six in loose inflorescences, which are called cymes because of their shape.
ecology
With their inconspicuous flowers, euonymus hats have specialized in particular pollinators. They do not develop conspicuous petals, as they only attract small insects with their sweet-smelling nectar. When euonymus blooms between May and June, flies and ants are among the most common flower visitors. Honey bees also use the flowers as a food source. The fruits are eaten by robins, thrushes and tits.
soil claims
The location is very important so that the spindle tree shines in full bloom. The shrub prefers substrates rich in lime and nutrients. They prefer fresh to moist soil with a high proportion of clay. They have no problems with sandy soil, but the growth potential of the shrubs is limited on this subsoil. Even drier conditions do not cause any problems for the tree. This makes the euonymus one of the few shrubs that adapt well to the given conditions. Higher salt levels in the soil are tolerated.
Stimulate flowering by pruning:
- remove diseased and dead branches
- thin out annually
- Perform topiary all year round