Euonymus Shrubs: 6 Types of Euonymus Plants

Euonymus is a genus of plants (commonly called euonymus plants) that includes several varieties of broadleaf evergreen shrubs, deciduous perennials, and fast-growing vines. Most species of euonymus grow horizontally until they mature or find climbing support to grow vertically. Many varieties have multicolored foliage, flowers, or bright fruits that can provide your garden with privacy and aesthetic beauty. More than four dozen species are native to China, although you can find euonymus plants worldwide.

These euonymus shrubs are capable of adding green foliage and fall color to a garden space:

1. 1. American strawberry bush: The Euonymus americanus is a deciduous shrub that produces wart-skinned red berries with large orange seeds. Although these berries are not safe for human consumption, birds and small mammals of the Midwest and the East Coast in the United States feed heavily on the vibrant fruit in early summer.
2. 2. Burning bush: The Euonymus alatus is a small, deciduous spindle tree with a growth rate and maximum height similar to a mature boxwood tree. The burning bush gets its name from its foliage of dark green leaves that turn a vibrant red during the fall. This spindle tree is endemic to the woodlands of East Asia, but landscapers naturalized the plant in North America in the 1860s for its ornamental utility.
3. 3. European spindle: The Euonymus europaeus is a deciduous shrub in the Celastraceae family that produces vibrant pink fruits and deep purple leaves in autumn. This smaller spindle tree is native throughout much of Europe and is exceptionally adaptable to diverse climates and poor soil conditions. Although the plant has utilitarian and ornamental value, it is poisonous and reproduces quickly. Therefore, many regions of the world have labeled the European spindle an invasive species.
4. 4. Fortune’s spindle: The Euonymus fortunei is a flowering shrub that grows in a vine-like climbing pattern, similar to hydrangea. Although often planted as ground cover, the fortune’s spindle will latch onto any vertical support nearby and wrap buildings and small trees with its green foliage. In gardening circles, it goes by numerous common names, including, but not limited to: wintercreeper euonymus, climbing euonymus, and evergreen euonymus. Two of the most popular cultivars include ‘Emerald Gaiety’ and ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold.’
5. 5. Japanese euonymus: The Japanese spindle (Euonymus japonicus) is a euonymus species that gardeners use in landscaping. You can also find this plant in its natural habitat within the deciduous forests of East Asia, although horticulturalists have bred several award-winning cultivars of this plant, including the ‘Silver King’, the ‘Silver Queen’, the ‘Microphyllus’, and the ‘Aureomarginatus’ (or golden euonymus). The cultivars have similar ornamental characteristics and variegated leaf colorations.
6. 6. Wahoo: The Euonymus atropurpureus is a non-invasive plant native to North America. Like the burning bush euonymus, the wahoo plant has dark green leaves that burst into a bright pink color in the fall. The wahoo plant is exceptionally resilient and can survive drastic temperature changes, drought, and minor floods. Many Indigenous tribes celebrated this steadfast endurance of the wahoo and planted them around villages to protect their citizens from enemies or evil spirits.

Although euonymus plants are hardy and resilient, you can consider these basic tenants of shrub care to nurture them throughout their life cycle:

• Plant euonymus in cool weather. Euonymus plants grow rapidly when they receive full sun and partial shade. However, the best time to plant these shrubs is early fall, when daytime temperatures are milder. Euonymus plants will not grow in hot, arid climates, but they thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 4–8. Heavily water your new plant to allow the soil to harden around the root ball. Give the wet soil time to dry before resuming a normal watering schedule.
  
• Prune euonymus plants after the last frost in the season. Although many species of euonymus are cold-hardy, severe weather conditions can damage or kill large sections of the shrub. To protect against frost damage, refrain from pruning the shrubs until early spring or a few weeks after the last frost of the season.
• Reexamine your plants regularly for signs of pests or diseases. Euonymus are fast-growing and resilient, but they are still susceptible to plant diseases and predatory insects. Since landscapers often prune and manicure shrubs to hold a tight, compact shape, these issues can spread quickly through an entire row of plants. Check your leaves for discoloration, insect eggs, or fungal disease, and address the problem early with neem oil or an organic insecticidal soap before it spreads.

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