What does it look like?
European spindle tree is a deciduous shrub or small tree that grows to 6m tall with smooth, grey bark and young branches that are square and green. It has paired oval leaves (2-10 cm) with pointed tips, margins with shallow rounded teeth, and 6-12mm leaf stalks usually turn red in autumn.
Flower buds are greenish and usually 4-angled. Clusters of 2-15 flowers (8-10 mm diameter) with four narrow and widely separated greenish-yellow petals appear from November and December, followed (March to May) by 4-lobed, deep pink seed capsules that ripen to expose bright orange flesh covering each seed.
Japanese spindle tree is much the same but with a rounded seed capsule.
Why is it a problem?
Spindle trees can tolerate a wide range of conditions including shade, warm and cold temperatures, wind, poor soils and moderate to low rainfall. It is poisonous so is not grazed by stock. It will form dense thickets on open spaces, blocking and shading other plants.
It produces many seeds which germinate freely and are spread widely by birds, and sprouts (suckers) from its root system.
Control methods
Physical control
Hand pull small plants, or dig out entire plant (including roots) all year round. Dispose of at a refuse transfer station, burn, or bury deeply.
Herbicide control
- Cut down and paint stump year-round with glyphosate (200ml/L) or metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (1g/L) or a product containing 100g picloram+300g triclopyr/L (100ml/L) or triclopyr 600 EC (100ml/L) or triclopyr 120g/L (500ml/L). Or,
- Spray (all year round) with metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (5g/10L + penetrant) or triclopyr 600 EC (30ml/10L + penetrant) or triclopyr 120g/L (15ml/L).
- Plants with seed must be buried deeply, burnt, or disposed of at a refuse transfer station. Follow up at six-monthly intervals to complete eradication. Cut stumps or fragments resprout, so ongoing follow-up is required to ensure eradication.
- CAUTION: When using any herbicide or pesticide, PLEASE READ THE LABEL THOROUGHLY to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.
Related links
Management Programme
National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA)
The NPPA is designed to prevent the sale, distribution and propagation of a set list of pest plants (the Accord list) within New Zealand. If allowed to spread further, these pest plants could seriously damage the New Zealand economy and environment.
More informationUnwanted Organism
An unwanted organism is any organism that's capable of causing harm to natural or physical resources (like forests and waterways) or human health. A number of introduced pests in New Zealand are classed as unwanted.
Taxonomies
FamilyCelastraceae
TypePlants
GroupShrub
HabitatLand
Management ProgrammeNational Pest Plant Accord (NPPA)Unwanted Organism
