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Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ (Wintercreeper)

Wintercreeper 'Emerald 'n' Gold', Spindle 'Emerald 'n' Gold'

AGM Award
Euonymus Fortunei 'Emerald 'n' Gold', Wintercreeper 'Emerald 'n' Gold', Spindle 'Emerald 'n' Gold', evergreen shrubs

Noted for its luminous and attractive foliage, Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ (Wintercreeper) is a low-growing, broadleaf, evergreen shrub with a spreading habit. It forms a dense, bushy mat of glossy, ovate to elliptic, dark green leaves edged with gold and tinged pink in fall and winter. It produces a few tiny, inconspicuous, greenish flowers in early summer.

  • Grows up to 1-2 ft. tall (30-60 cm) with a spread of 3-4 ft. (90-120 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 full 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 trailing ground cover, a low hedge, as an edging plant along paths, massed on slopes to control erosion or as a foundation plant. With support, it will climb vigorously and is ideally 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, Winter Creeper, Wintercreeper
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spread 3' - 4'
(90cm - 120cm)
Spacing 36" - 48"
(90cm - 120cm)
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
Tolerance Full Shade
Attracts Butterflies
Garden Uses Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders, Ground Covers, Hedges And Screens, Patio And Containers, Wall-Side Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, City and Courtyard, Prairie and Meadow
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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 ‘Canadale Gold’ (Wintercreeper)
Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’ (Wintercreeper)

Recommended Companion Plants

Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ (Tatarian Dogwood)
Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ (Hakone Grass)
Sisyrinchium striatum (Pale Yellow-Eyed Grass)
Erica carnea ‘Springwood White’ (Winter Heath)
Geranium ‘Rozanne’ (Cranesbill)
Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

A Glowing Winter Border with Dogwood, Heath and Grasses
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.
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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, Winter Creeper, Wintercreeper
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spread 3' - 4'
(90cm - 120cm)
Spacing 36" - 48"
(90cm - 120cm)
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
Tolerance Full Shade
Attracts Butterflies
Garden Uses Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders, Ground Covers, Hedges And Screens, Patio And Containers, Wall-Side Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, City and Courtyard, Prairie and Meadow
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Euonymus
Guides with
Euonymus
Not sure which Euonymus to pick?
Compare Now

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