Euonymus plants are incredibly popular in the UK and come in a wide variety of colours.
Euonymus can be found in countless gardens and parks throughout the UK and its many varieties make it perfect if you’re looking to add some colour and variety to your garden.
They are known by several names depending on the country – some common terms for Euonymus plants include Spindle Tree, Strawberry Bush and Wintercreeper.
Euonymus comprises a series of flowering plants, of which there are roughly 140 species – some being deciduous and some evergreen.1
Overview
| Botanical Name | Euonymus |
| Common Name(s) | Spindle; Strawberry Bush; Wintercreeper |
| Plant Type | Shrub / Hedging / Tree |
| Native Area | Mostly native to East Asia |
| Hardiness Rating | H5 |
| Foliage | Evergreen or deciduous |
| Flowers | Small flowers followed by colourful fruits |
| When To Sow | March, April, September, October |
| Flowering Months | June, July, August |
According to records from Kew, Euonymus is native to almost all of the Northern Hemisphere, as well as many countries in central and south-east Asia – as far as Queensland in Australia.2
Although Euonymus plants do have some practical uses (Spindle is used to make charcoal and spinning wool, amongst other things) their popularity is mostly a result of their appearance.3
Euonymus plants look great in a variety of settings and their vibrant foliage (available in a range of colours) makes them perfect for any and all gardens.
“Whilst not the most fashionable of plants, Euonymous is a valuable garden plant, particularly for creating structure in shady gardens,” shares Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly.
“Some of the variegated cultivars can be quite slow growing but others, such as E. japonicus, are very quick and make good bulletproof hedges and shelter belt plants.”
Habitat & Growing Conditions
The habitat and growing conditions of Euonymus will usually vary depending on the species.
Spindle, Euonymous europaeus, can usually be found growing on the edge of forests.
When it grows in the wild, it provides great value to wildlife, with a range of insects feeding on its leaves, including caterpillars, moths and butterflies.4
As with other species of Euonymus, spindle does well in the shade and typically grows between 3-6m tall, although it can grow higher when allowed to grow into a tree.
How To Grow Euonymus
One incredibly useful attribute of Euonymus plants is that they do very well in the shade.
This makes them easy ‘set and forget’ plants for a shaded garden corner that receives little sunlight.
However, if you want the leaves to be at their most vibrant, then it’s a good idea to ensure they get at least some light during the day.
Euonymus plants also require very little watering once they’re established and can even tolerate droughts.
Generally, you won’t need to use fertiliser for Euonymus plants.
However, if you’re planting them in a container or the soil condition is quite poor, then you can use an all-purpose shrub fertiliser on them.
Planting
Euonymus can be planted at pretty much any time of the year, providing the soil is in decent condition and not frozen.
That being said, there are certain times of the year that are more optimal for planting than others – the best time to plant Euonymus would be early spring or late summer.
When it comes to picking the right spot to plant Euonymus, the main thing you want to ensure is that it has adequate space; this will allow for proper air circulation and help to prevent problems from setting in.
Make sure you dig a hole that’s roughly twice the size of the root ball and if you want, you can add some fertiliser to the soil when first planting it.
You should water it regularly for the first year, but after that it will require very little, if any, watering.
Growing Euonymus As Hedging
Euonymus plants are very often used for hedging due to their low maintenance and ability to cope in most environments.
There are also certain species that grow to be very tall, making them great for privacy and creating shade.
Below are some of the best species of Euonymus you can use for hedging.
‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’
Possibly one of the more obvious choices as a hedging plant.
Not only does it look great, with its green and gold leaves, but it also grows at a decent rate without needing too much pruning.
Evergreen Spindle
Another great Euonymus plant for hedging would be E. japonicus.
As we mentioned earlier, the high growth rate makes it perfect for getting a lot of coverage.
This plant isn’t just practical though, it also looks great thanks to its yellow and green leaves – while it also sprouts pink fruits in the autumn.
‘Emerald Gaiety’
‘Emerald Gaiety’ would work very well for hedging too – its compact structure and striking white-tinted leaves make it an excellent alternative to more common types of Euonymus like ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’.
References
1. Euonymus. (n.d.). North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/euonymus/
2. Euonymus. (n.d.-b). Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:331601-2
3. Spindle (Euonymus europaeus). (n.d.). Woodland Trust. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/spindle/
4. Spindle Ermine. (n.d.). Butterfly Conservation. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/spindle-ermine
