This small tree had a familiar look but seemed to be flowering at the wrong time of year. Later when I discovered what it was, I realised that the flowers had reminded me of the Spring flowering native Euonymus europaeus (Spindle). The two specimens we saw looked as though they had escaped from the nearby Botanic Gardens although Stace doesn't believe that can happen this far north.

E. japonicus has escaped successfully in the southern counties of Ireland, in the southern coastal regions of England and also the Lancashire coast and as far north as the Isle of Man. There is a little in Wales and none to be found in Scotland.

Banks of River Laggan, Belfast 17th August 2006

Added on 27th September 2006, updated 11th January 2009, updated 30th March 2010