Wintercreeper, Chinese Spindle Tree, Climbing Euonymus, Gaiety, Winter Creeper
Euonymus fortunei (Wintercreeper) is a fast-growing, evergreen shrub, vine, or groundcover of variable size. It can grow as a woody, clinging vine climbing to 40-70 ft. (12-21 m) with the support of aerial roots, or it can form a dense groundcover or low shrub. The foliage is variable in color and size. The ovate-elliptic, finely toothed leaves, 1-3 in. long (2-7 cm), can be dark green, variegated, or with purplish lower surfaces. A few tiny, inconspicuous, greenish flowers are produced in early summer. They are followed by long-lasting, small berries that are eaten by birds. Native to Asia, Wintercreeper adds four-season color to the landscape and has long been cultivated as an ornamental plant in China and Japan. It has also been widely used as an ornamental plant in temperate and sub-tropical regions around the world. Wintercreeper spreads both by creeping stems that root where they touch the ground and by animal or water-dispersed seeds. It has been reported to be invasive in natural areas in most of eastern North America. Over 50 cultivars are currently available. They should be used with care as they are considered invasive in some locations.
| 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 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Celastraceae |
| Genus | Euonymus |
| Common names | Wintercreeper, Gaiety, Winter Creeper |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Early, Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall Winter |
| Height |
2' - 10' (60cm - 3m) |
| Spread |
2' - 10' (60cm - 3m) |
| 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 | Showy, Evergreen |
| Garden Uses | Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders, Ground Covers, Hedges And Screens, Patio And Containers |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
| 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 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Celastraceae |
| Genus | Euonymus |
| Common names | Wintercreeper, Gaiety, Winter Creeper |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Early, Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall Winter |
| Height |
2' - 10' (60cm - 3m) |
| Spread |
2' - 10' (60cm - 3m) |
| 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 | Showy, Evergreen |
| Garden Uses | Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders, Ground Covers, Hedges And Screens, Patio And Containers |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
How many Euonymus fortunei (Wintercreeper) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Euonymus fortunei (Wintercreeper) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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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.
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