This plant is identified as one of the smaller evergreen shrubs in the Euonymus genus (a group of plants with similar characteristics). However, various sources list its height as ranging from 2 to 8 feet. It easily spreads and can be grown as a shrubby ground cover. It can take up to 5 to 10 years to reach its full growth. In nature, the plant is often found in forest or natural areas in mixed deciduous forests and low woodlands; weedy in disturbed areas around houses and buildings. Euonymus prefers full sun to medium shade, moist to dry-mesic conditions, and soil containing loam, clay-loam, sand, and gravelly material. It tolerates heavy shade, is pH adaptable, and is easily transplanted from woody cuttings and tolerates a variety of soils other than wet ground. It has small, pale green flowers that attract bees and often has attractive fall foliage. The foliage is glossy, elongated, and dark green with contrasting white margins. In cold weather the leaves often becomes tinged with purplish pink. The berries resulting from the flowers are eaten by birds and the seeds are spread into the woodlands, with resulting shrub growth which can disrupt native plant habitats. The shrubs are difficult to eradicate. See shrubs listed to the left that also have variegated cultivars and are better behaved than this one. Deer also like the plant. If used, spread can be reduced by planting it in shadier areas which slow or reduces the number of flowers and resulting seeds, thus reducing spread by birds. The foliage is the main attraction to the shrub. A number of plants in this genus are poisonous and caution is advised. Avoid eating any parts of this plant in large quantities. The berries in particular should not be eaten by humans. The berries are eaten by some birds which is how the plant is spread and often how it becomes more invasive. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems : Scale and winter leaf burn can be a problem. Susceptible to anthracnose, powdery mildew, aphids, and crown gall. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases. More information on Euonymus fortunei .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Similar, less problematicAucuba japonica 'Variegata'Buxus sempervirens 'Elegantissima'Cornus alba 'Argenteo-marginata'Cornus alba Neon Burst™ 'Byboughen'Gardenia jasminoides 'Jubilation'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Poisonous; Shrub
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing; Dense; Multi-stemmed
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblong; Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate; Serrate
Leaf feel
Leathery; Smooth
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Metallic, dark green leaves with creamy yellow margins. Leaves occur at intervals along the young shoots; densely distributed and rather leathery in texture. The leaf tips are acute to blunt, while the leaf bases are rounded, truncate, or cuneate (wedge-shaped). On shoots with immature leaves, the leaves are often conspicuously whitened along the central and lateral veins; flowers and fruits are not produced on such shoots. On shoots with mature leaves, the leaves are less whitened or green along the central and lateral veins; these shoots usually produce flowers and fruits.
Flower color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Cyme; Insignificant
Flower shape
Dome; Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small, greenish white flowers. The flower is about 1/4 inch with four petals which may be dome shaped or flat. Flowers develop from the axils of mature leaves; their peduncles (basal stalks) are up to 4" long, while their pedicels are up to ½" long. Both peduncles and pedicels are light green, hairless, and terete. The blooming period occurs during the summer for about 3 weeks.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Orange; Pink; Red/Burgundy; White
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Fertile flowers are replaced by seed capsules that become mature during the autumn. Mature reddish, pink, ivory to yellow capsules are white, globoid, and about ¼ inch across. Eventually, they split open to reveal fleshy arils that are orange to red; solitary seeds occurs within these arils.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Bark detail
Gray-brown, thin, initially smooth.
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Older branches become reddish brown, rough-textured, and woody, while young shoots are green, terete, glabrous, and rather stiff.