Spindle Berries

[sandrar57]

We have a spindle tree in our garden which has masses of berries every year. However, my elderly neighbour has a spindle too but it has never had any berries at all so he is planning on chopping it down. Does anyone know why his doesn't produce any berries?

[Hedera]

How old is your neighbour's spindle bush? Does it have flowers (greenish)? Maybe not mature enough yet.

[sandrar57]

I'm not sure how old it is, other than it is older than ours which does have berries. My neighbour's tree does have small insignificant flowers though.

[ceterach]

Hi

Spindle is an interesting plant in that although it is usually said to be monoecious (i.e. male and female flowers on the same plant), in some plants the female flower parts do not develop and so the plant is effectively dioecious. If your neighbour has one of those and he wants fruit, he will never get any so he may as well chop it down.

All the best

[Hedera]

That is a fact. Perhaps you could plant some of your seeds and grow him another bush?