Create Your Garden

Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’ (Wintercreeper)

Wintercreeper 'Emerald Gaiety', Spindle 'Emerald Gaiety', Euonymus 'Gaiety'

AGM Award
Euonymus Fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety', Wintercreeper 'Emerald Gaiety', Spindle 'Emerald Gaiety', evergreen shrubs, variegated shrubs

Noted for its luminous and attractive foliage, Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’ (Wintercreeper) is a small, bushy evergreen shrub with rounded, glossy, deep emerald green leaves adorned with irregular white margins which can take on a pink tinge in the winter. It produces a few tiny, inconspicuous, greenish flowers in early summer. Erect and densely branched, with an irregular growth habit, this evergreen shrub can climb if planted against a wall or next to a structure.

  • Grows up to 4-5 ft. tall and wide (120-150 cm). Wintercreeper spreads both by creeping stems which root where they touch the ground, and by animal or water dispersed seeds. Euonymus fortunei has been reported to be invasive in natural areas in most of the states in the eastern half of the U.S.
  • A full sun to part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Grow in full sun if your soil is moisture retentive. Tolerates a wide range of soils excluding boggy and wet soils.
  • Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
  • Watch for Euonymus scale, anthracnose, crown gall, leaf spot, mildew and aphids.
  • Extremely versatile, Euonymus fortunei may be used as a low hedge or as a foundation plant. With support, it will climb vigorously and is ideal trained against a shady wall.
  • All parts may cause severe discomfort if ingested.
  • Euonymus fortunei species is native to China, Japan, and Korea.
  • Find where Euonymus fortunei species is invasive in the United States.
  • Discover beautiful U.S. native plant alternatives.

Requirements

Hardiness 5 - 9
Heat Zones 2 - 9
Climate Zones 2, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Celastraceae
Genus Euonymus
Common names Gaiety, Wintercreeper, Winter Creeper
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 4' - 5'
(120cm - 150cm)
Spread 4' - 5'
(120cm - 150cm)
Spacing 60" (150cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens, Wall-Side Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, City and Courtyard
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Euonymus
Guides with
Euonymus
Not sure which Euonymus to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Euonymus americanus (American Strawberry Bush)
Euonymus fortunei (Wintercreeper)
Euonymus japonicus ‘Silver King’ (Japanese Spindle)
Euonymus japonicus ‘Microphyllus Aureovariegatus’ (Japanese Spindle)
Euonymus fortunei Goldy™ ‘ (Wintercreeper)
Euonymus fortunei ‘Canadale Gold’ (Wintercreeper)

Recommended Companion Plants

Pachysandra terminalis ‘Green Carpet’ (Japanese Spurge)
Primula pulverulenta (Candelabra Primrose)
Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ (Smokebush)
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Rosea’ (Lavender)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

Native Plant Alternatives to Euonymus alatus (Burning Bush)
Native Plant Alternatives to Euonymus fortunei (Wintercreeper)
Attractive Deciduous Shrubs and Trees with Red Fruits and Berries
Attractive Shrubs and Trees with Orange Fruits and Berries
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 5 - 9
Heat Zones 2 - 9
Climate Zones 2, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Celastraceae
Genus Euonymus
Common names Gaiety, Wintercreeper, Winter Creeper
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 4' - 5'
(120cm - 150cm)
Spread 4' - 5'
(120cm - 150cm)
Spacing 60" (150cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens, Wall-Side Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, City and Courtyard
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Euonymus
Guides with
Euonymus
Not sure which Euonymus to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’ (Wintercreeper) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’ (Wintercreeper) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone