Euonymus vagans

Position: Partial shade

Flowering period: Summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 2m

Eventual Spread: 3m

Hardiness: 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11

Family: Celastraceae

Euonymus vagans, commonly known as Spindle, is an evergreen shrub with a bushy, spreading habit. Euonymus vagans is native to south China, Tibet, Nepal north east India, Laos and Myanmar. In its native habitat, Euonymus vagans grows in mixed woodlands and scrub. Its glossy dark green leaves are ovate. Its white flowers are small and insignificant. These are followed by orange/ red berries which persist on the plant during the winter months. Euonymus vagans is not widely available commercially in the UK.

Euonymus vagans (18/11/12, Kew Gardens, London)

Euonymus vagans Berry (18/11/12, Kew Gardens, London)

Landscape Architecture

Euonymus japonicus ‘Aureopictus’

Euonymus japonicus ‘Aureopictus’ (08/02/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to shade

Flowering period: Summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 1.5m

Eventual Spread: 1.5m

Hardiness: 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Celastraceae

Euonymus japonicus ‘Aureopictus’ is an evergreen shrub with a bushy habit. Its glossy dark green and cream coloured leaves are ovate with serrate margins, up to 6cm long and 3cm broad. Its green/ white flowers are small star shaped and up to 5mm across. Its fruit are small spherical pink fruits with orange seeds.

The species Euonymus japonicus, commonly known as Japanese spindle, is native to Japan, Korea and China.

The etymological root of the binomial name Euonymus is derived from the Greek eu ’good’ and onoma ’name’. Japonicus is derived from the Latin meaning ‘of Japan’.

The landscape architect may find Euonymus japonicus ‘Aureopictus’ useful as a variegated specimen shrub. It is suitable for use as evergreen hedging plant particularly in shady locations. It is drought tolerant once established. It is tolerant of maritime conditions.

Euonymus japonicus ‘Aureopictus’ Leaf (08/02/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically,  Euonymus japonicus flowers are attractive to pollinating insects. including bees and flies.

Euonymus japonicus prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It will not tolerate waterlogged soil.

Euonymus japonicus requires little maintenance. If maintained as a hedge it may be cut in May and early autumn if necessary. If necessary it can be cut back heavily, also in May.

Landscape Architecture

Euonymus fortunei

Euonymus fortunei (28/09/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to shade

Flowering period: Early summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 20cm (10m with support)

Eventual Spread: Indefinite

Hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11

Family: Celastraceae

Euonymus fortunei is an evergreen shrub with a spreading and climbing habit. Its dark green leaves are elliptic with serrulate margins, up to 5cm long and 3cm broad. Its stems will form rootlets which enables it to climb. Its green/ yellow flowers are up to 5mm across with four small petals. Its fruit is a 4 lobed green pod like berry, which splits open to reveal the fleshy coated orange seeds, one seed in each lobe.

Euonymus fortunei, commonly known as Spindle, Fortune’s Spindle or Wintercreeper, is native to east Asia, including China, Korea, Philippines and Japan. In its native habitat it grows in woodlands and scrub. Euonymus fortunei is considered an invasive species in some parts of eastern United States and Canada.

Euonymus fortunei Leaf (28/09/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

The etymological root of the binomial name Euonymus is derived from the name Euonyme the mother of the Furies in Greek mythology who were the infernal avenging goddesses of the underworld. Fortunei is named after Robert Fortune (1812 – 1880) the plant explorer.

The landscape architect may find Euonymus fortunei useful as an effective evergreen ground cover. It is suitable for dry soils, shady locations, maritime locations and can tolerate urban pollution. Care should be taken when specifying this plant as it can be invasive and will climb tree trunks and other structures.

Ecologically, Euonymus fortunei flowers are attractive to some pollinating insets.

Euonymus fortunei prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Euonymus fortunei requires little maintenance. It may be pruned at anytime.