Euonymus
( yew - ON - im - us )
At-A-Glance InformationThis group of evergreen and deciduous hardy, low-maintenance shrubs and vines need moderate to regular water and attract songbirds with their colorful fruits. These shrubs are commonly called Spindle Tree, and most species can take a variety of sun exposures. These shrubs are very commonly grown garden shrubs, and deciduous species have bright fall foliage, adding interest to landscapes. Take care when planting these shrubs in your garden; consuming any part of them can be poisonous.
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Euonymus Species and Varietals
The genus Euonymus is a member of the family Celastraceae, and includes around 130 species. The botanical name Euonymus is derived from the Greek suffix eu- (which means good) and the word 'onyma' (meaning name). The best growing zones for Euonymus vary depending on the species; for more information see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Euonymus alatus (Winged Euonymus) This deciduous shrub grows best in zones A3, 2-10 and 14-16. Native to China, Japan and eastern Russia, this plant can reach 15-20 feet tall and wide. Fall color is showy, when dark green leaves turn red. Varieties include 'Compactus' (6-10 feet tall and wide, excellent hedge), 'Little Moses' (3 feet tall and a little wider, with long-lasting fall color), 'Rudy Haag' (dense growth to 4-5 feet tall and wide, with rose-red fall color), and 'Timber Creek' (also called 'Chicago Fire', to 8 feet tall and wide, and is extra-hardy). Considered invasive in the northeastern United States. |
Euonymus americanus (Strawberry Bush) This deciduous shrub grows best in zones 3b-9 and 14-17 and is native to the eastern United States. `Gets 4-6 feet tall and wide, with leathery dark green leaves which turn yellow in fall. Scarlet-colored fruits in fall open to show orange seeds. Can take a lot of shade and is good for woodland yards. |
Euonymus europaeus (Spindle Tree) This is a deciduous shrub or tree that gets to 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Green branches and shiny green leaves. Fall color is yellow or red. Flowers mature to pink or red showy fruit with white seeds. Needs full sun or partial shade. Varieties include 'Aldenham' (with bright pink/orange fruits and red fall foliage), and 'Red Cascade' (which has deep purple-red fall color and profuse red fruit; pictured). |
Euonymus fortunei
Grows as an evergreen vine or shrub in zones 2b-17. Native to China, branches on this species will trail and sometimes root. If allowed to climb, can reach 20 feet tall and wide. Can grow in sun or shade. Varieties are outlined below.
Grows as an evergreen vine or shrub in zones 2b-17. Native to China, branches on this species will trail and sometimes root. If allowed to climb, can reach 20 feet tall and wide. Can grow in sun or shade. Varieties are outlined below.
'Blondy'
Mounding growth to 2 feet high and 3 feet wide, with green-edged golden yellow leaves. |
'Canadale Gold'
This shrub is compact, to 4 feet tall and 3.5 feet wide. With light green leaves edged in yellow. |
'Coloratus'
1.5 feet tall and 8 feet wide; makes an even groundcover with leaves that turn dark purple in the fall. |
'Emerald Galety'
Grows to 2-4 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Dense growing and erect, with white-edged leaves that turn pink in the cold. |
'Emerald n' Gold'
Similar to 'Emerald Galety' but with gold-edged leaves. |
'Golden Prince'
4 feet tall and wide, new growth is tipped gold. Older leaves turn solid green. Good, hardy hedge plant. |
'Green Lane'
3-4 feet tall and 4-5 feet wide with deep green leaves and orange fruit in fall. |
'Harlequin'
1 foot tall and 18 inches wide, New growth is white, turns variegated with green in maturity. Good for edges or containers. |
'Ivory Jade'
Grows to 3 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Has creamy-white leaf margins, leaves turn pink in cold weather. |
'Moonshadow'
Gets to 3 feet tall and 5 feet wide. Bright yellow leaves with dark green margins. |
'Sunspot'
3-6 feet tall and just as wide, Dark green leaves have a center yellow spot. |
'Wolong Ghost'
10 inches tall, 2 feet wide. Narrow dark green leaves veined with white. Good groundcover. |
Euonymus japonicus (Evergreen Euonymus)
Native to China, this shrub grows 8-12 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide. Can form a hedge or screen. This species has glossy, deep green leaves, though variegated forms of this species are more popular. See the varieties outlined below for more information.
Native to China, this shrub grows 8-12 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide. Can form a hedge or screen. This species has glossy, deep green leaves, though variegated forms of this species are more popular. See the varieties outlined below for more information.
'Aureovariegatus'
(Gold Spot Euonymus) 6 feet tall, 3 feet wide, green leaves with a yellow blotch. |
'Chollipo'
Narrow plant to 12 feet tall, Green leaves with white borders. |
'Grandifolius'
6-8 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide. Has shiny dark green leaves. Compact grower. |
'Green Spire'
6-8 foot tall columnar plant, with dark green leaves, great as a narrow hedge. |
'Microphyllus'
(Box-Leaf Euonymus) 2 feet tall, trimmed into a low hedge usually. |
'Ovatus Aureus'
8 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Dark green leaves with yellow margins. |
'Silver King'
To 6 feet tall with green leaves edged in silver. |
'Silver Princess'
2-3 feet tall and wide, with green leaves edged in silver. |
Caring for and pruning Euonymus shrubs
Considered to be easy-care plantings, Euonymus is drought-tolerant and can take salty conditions, as well. These shrubs can be planted at any time of the year, though in warmer climates, summer plantings are discouraged and in cooler climates, winter plantings should be pushed back to springtime. Sun exposure needs vary depending on the species; plant according to your specific shrub's needs. Euonymus shrubs prefer rich soil amended with plenty of organic material and a pH of between 6.0 and 8.0. Add 1-2 inches of mulch around the bottom of the shrub at planting time to increase soil water retention.
Euonymus shrubs do not need added fertilization as long as the soil they're growing in has organic material added in every year or so. If your shrub seems to be struggling, it is acceptable to add an application of all-purpose fertilizer to the root zone in fall (once a year at the most). Pruning your Euonymus is a great way to keep it looking neat. At any time, errant or unwanted growth can be pruned away. These shrubs can send up sprouts from the ground; these can be transplanted or simply thrown away if they are unwanted. Any hard prunings for rejuvenation should take place in springtime after the danger of frosts have passed by.
Euonymus shrubs do not need added fertilization as long as the soil they're growing in has organic material added in every year or so. If your shrub seems to be struggling, it is acceptable to add an application of all-purpose fertilizer to the root zone in fall (once a year at the most). Pruning your Euonymus is a great way to keep it looking neat. At any time, errant or unwanted growth can be pruned away. These shrubs can send up sprouts from the ground; these can be transplanted or simply thrown away if they are unwanted. Any hard prunings for rejuvenation should take place in springtime after the danger of frosts have passed by.
Propagation
Euonymus can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub follow the instructions below:
Propagating Euonymus by Cutting
Propagating Euonymus by Seed
Propagating Euonymus by Cutting
- Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
- Euonymus shrubs can either be propagated via semi-hardwood or hardwood cuttings taken in summertime, or via hardwood cuttings taken in winter. Ensure that the plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 3-4 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
- Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm (between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit) place indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to eight weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth on your propagated shrub, you'll know you have roots. At this time, you can begin the hardening off process.
- Begin taking your cutting on field trips outdoors, starting first with just 30 minutes, and adding between 30 and 60 minutes each subsequent day. When your Euonymus can take a full day outdoors, it is ready to be planted in its forever home in your garden. Ensure that your new shrub is protected from both frost and high temperatures as it acclimates to its new surroundings.
Propagating Euonymus by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a strainer, paper towel, sand, Ziploc bag, and have some refrigerator space available for cold-stratifying your seeds.
- Harvest your seeds in late fall. Euonymus seeds are contained inside fruiting bodies, and need to be removed before being planted. Pick the berries off of your Euonymus shrub and take the seeds out, rinsing them with water in a strainer before setting them out to dry on a paper towel.
- Euonymus seeds need to be cold-stratified before being sown. Place your seeds in moist sand inside a Ziploc bag and place the bag in your refrigerator. The bag should be kept at a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 3 months. By the time spring rolls around, your seeds will be ready to plant, but it is a good practice to wait until summertime when the weather is a bit warmer (between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Your Euonymus seeds can be sown directly into the ground; amend soil with plenty of organic matter to prepare it for its new residents, and sow the seeds a quarter inch under the soil surface. How far apart you'll space the seeds is based on the size of the species you've propagated. Water in the seeds gently, being careful to not disturb their placement or unearth them.
- Continue to keep the soil moist for the next 8 weeks. You should notice your seeds sprouting by this time. Once they've sprouted, make sure to thin them to ensure they'll have enough space to grow, and continue to care for them until they've established themselves, at which point they will need a little less water.
Problems and Pests
Euonymus shrubs are susceptible to the following issues and pests:
- Euonymus Scale
- Anthracnose
- Cercospora Leaf Spot
- Crown Gall
- Scab
Gallery
Many Euonymus shrubs have wonderful color, and their height makes them great choices for planting in front of larger, evergreen shrubs.
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Use Euonymus shrubs to create natural borders within your garden or between your yard and your neighbors'.
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In fall, Euonymus alatus can be used as an accent to add some fiery color to your yard.
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Videos
All about growing Green Spire Euonymus (Euonymus japonicus 'Green Spire').
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See how Euonymus shrubs propagated via cuttings are doing a year later.
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Using Euonymus in mixed planting beds.
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How to prune your Euonymus shrubs.
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All about planting and growing Euonymus in your garden.
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Pruning an overgrown Euonymus.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 313 - 315, Euonymus
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