Dwarf Cultivars Are Best When Growing Euonymus In Pots Say Horticulturists
Elizabeth is a Permaculture Garden Designer, Sustainability Consultant and Professional Writer, working as an advocate for positive change. She graduated from the University of St. Andrews with an MA in English and Philosophy and obtained a Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design from the Permaculture Association.
Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY
Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience.
IN THIS GUIDE
Euonymus shrubs have varied uses in many gardens, as some are great border shrubs, whilst others can even be climbers when placed against a wall or fence.
They also can look great as stand-alone specimens and they also make great ground cover plants.
The glossy foliage of evergreen types, often with variegation, makes them attractive as foliage plants in many settings and deciduous types too can bring a lot of interest through much of the year.
But can you grow euonymus in pots? And if so, what do you need to know to do so successfully?
Can You Grow Euonymus In Pots?
Euonymus can vary greatly in size, growth habit and appearance.
You can indeed grow many of these shrubs in containers, but it is important to understand the characteristics of the various varieties and to choose the best options for container growing.
Some of the smaller cultivars of evergreen euonymus are the ones best suited to container growing.
Dwarf cultivars of E. fortunei and E. japonicus are popular options.
Note that these will require more care when grown in containers than when grown in the ground, but they can look great year-round when you choose the right container and growing medium, and care for them correctly.
Choosing Suitable Pots
Euonymus typically need a fairly large container, but the types best-suited to container cultivation can thrive in a 40-50cm diameter pot for a few years.
One of the most important things to remember is that the pot needs to be able to retain moisture, while also allowing excess water to drain away freely from the base.
If you are growing a somewhat larger, taller shrub in a container, then the weight of the container is also something to consider.
It should be large and heavy enough to stand in place and not tip or be blown over.
Choosing Suitable Compost
When growing euonymus in pots, it is best to plant them in a loam-based, peat-free multipurpose compost.
Using a loam-based mix ensures that the plants get the nutrients they require when growing in containers longer term.
Euonymus like moist yet free-draining soil but cannot tolerate a waterlogged situation.
So, whether you buy a potting compost or make your own, it is important to make sure that you get the balance right and have a medium that provides the right conditions for these shrubs.
Potting Up Euonymus
Potted euonymus can be purchased during the majority of the year, but the best time to purchase and pot up a new shrub is in the spring or the autumn months.
When you pot up your euonymus, make sure that the plant sits at the same depth within the growing medium that it sat at in its previous pot.
It is a good idea to mulch around the top with a good quality organic mulch, but ensure that this does not pile around the base of the stems as this can cause rotting to occur.
How Many Euonymus Can You Plant Per Pot?
Euonymus are frequently grown as individual specimen plants within containers.
However, it is also worth considering that you might plant up larger containers with a euonymus shrub and other companions to create mixed displays.
Evergreen types of euonymus might be planted with winter bedding plants (such as hardy Fuchsia shown above) to keep your container garden looking good through the coldest part of the year.
Euonymus shrubs can be the stars of the show, with impressive foliage, or they can serve more as a backdrop for flowers or other more dramatic plants.
There are numerous ways to combine plants in containers to create amazing long-lasting displays.
Potted Euonymus Care
As mentioned above, euonymus will need a little more care when growing in containers than they will when growing in the ground, where they are an excellent low-maintenance plant.
“Euonymus are a very useful option for a difficult spot in the garden,” shares Colin Skelly, Horticultural Consultant.
“I’ve used them in spots that are too windy for more floral options and for a shady corner that could be lifted by a variegated cultivar.”
Luckily, even in containers, they can be relatively trouble-free and the main job will be making sure that the plants obtain enough water during dry spells in summer.
Sunlight
Place euonymus in containers in a position suitable for the particular variety that you have chosen to grow.
Many types can be particularly useful for planting in partial shade, but many can also grow in full sun too.
Watering
You should water euonymus in pots when the top few centimetres of the soil are dry.
Certain types can be fairly drought tolerant once established, but most will prefer moist yet free-draining conditions.
Whenever you water, water well and deeply, but make sure that excess water can drain away freely since these are not plants that can tolerate standing water or very damp conditions.
If waterlogging occurs, root rot can set in.
Feeding
Euonymus are not typically heavy feeders, and aside from an application of organic mulch each spring, those in the ground won’t typically require additional fertiliser to be applied.
However, those grown in pots may benefit from the use of a liquid plant feed such as a nettle tea or compost tea in summer, to foster healthy leafy growth.
Pruning
Lightly prune evergreen euonymus to maintain shape and size and remove any dead, damaged or diseased material in late winter or early spring.
Lightly trim all over to maintain size and neatness and to maintain a pleasing shape, but pruning is not always necessary and less is usually more.
Overwintering
Evergreen euonymus best suited to container growing generally have an RHS hardiness rating of H5, meaning that they can grow outside all winter in most of the UK.
However, remember that plants in pots are more vulnerable to both winter cold and winter wet, so it is important to make sure that your container is placed in a suitably sheltered location, protected somewhat from winter rains, frosts and winds.
If growing a more tender type, moving to an undercover position in a greenhouse or polytunnel might be a good idea.
Smaller, dwarf evergreen euonymus can be great choices for container gardens.
Follow the tips above and you should have no difficulty growing these shrubs successfully in your container garden.
