Many gardeners know very well what euonymus is. However, in some regions this plant is known as wolf berries, wolf earrings, and bruslina. And scientifically it is called Euonymus. This is how Carl Linnaeus christened him, combining the ancient Greek eu, that is, “good,” and onymus, “name, title.” The result was “a good, beautiful, glorious name” or simply “glorious”. Indeed, any type of euonymus is incredibly beautiful and effective in its own way, which is why landscape designers love it so much. And the unpretentiousness of the plant was appreciated by the owners of their personal plots. But the uncapricious, handsome euonymus has its own secrets, the knowledge of which determines the success of its cultivation.
How to distinguish euonymus from other plants
For those who do not yet know what euonymus is, the photo will help to understand the issue. A distinctive feature of this plant is its fruits - seed pods that ripen in the fall. It is then that they turn from green, inconspicuous, almost invisible against the background of foliage to bright red, crimson, purple or yellow (depending on the species, variety). Externally, the boxes are tetrahedral, hanging from a branch on thin thread-petioles. When fully ripe, they burst, revealing to the world four with black dots-eyes. All together it resembles parachutes or miniature Chinese lanterns. The berries do not fall until frost and always attract attention, and in addition, some people, especially children, make them want to try them. They taste sweet and sour, so without knowing what euonymus is and why it is dangerous, you can eat quite a lot of them. The consequences of such a meal are sad, since the berries are poisonous. After them, a persistent bitterness appears in the mouth, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fever begin. Therefore, you need to plant euonymus on your site in places where children do not walk, or explain to them clearly that these beautiful berries cannot be eaten.
Biological description
All euonymuses belong to the genus Euonymaceae. Depending on the species, they can be dwarf, only 30-50 cm tall, medium and tall, stretching up to 10 meters. The foliage of various euonymus trees is mostly green in summer, but some have a white or yellow border or are speckled. In autumn, the foliage of evergreen species does not change, but that of deciduous species flashes with dozens of shades of red, orange, and purple. By this sign you can also recognize what an euonymus is. The photo below shows one of the medium-sized species. It shows without further ado how spectacular the crown of these plants is.
But their flowers are not particularly remarkable, although they are also not without some originality. In some species, for example, in the winged euonymus, they resemble small wonderful creatures with 4 wings and 4 proboscis protruding from 4 pads. Other representatives of the genus have flowers that are less exotic, small, yellow-green, and practically odorless. The branches are also noteworthy. When cut they are round or square. Their bark is brown in color, in some species it is smooth, in others with growths, in others with longitudinal cork-like wing-like formations.
The benefits of euonymus
Previously, people involved in the production of rubber knew very well what euonymus was, since gutta-percha was made from its juice. Even now in medicine, especially in dentistry, materials obtained from warty euonymus are used. And they are needed for the treatment of periodontitis and pulpitis. Traditional healers advise using euonymus (bark, berries, leaves, branches) for heart disease, hypertension, skin ailments, and migraines. And smart gardeners plant winged euonymus among apple trees and other fruit trees, because plants of this species take on the blow of hordes of pests, saving the garden from them. What a wonderful plant this is.
Propagation by seeds
To finally understand what euonymus is and what can be expected from it, we will tell you about the methods of its propagation. And there are only two of them - vegetative and seeds. I must say that the last option is not the most successful, because it is troublesome and time-consuming. It is advisable to sow freshly harvested seeds - in the fall before winter, so that they undergo natural stratification. This is usually done by robins, for which euonymus berries are not poisonous. With this sowing technology, seeds germinate in the 2nd year. You can speed up the process by stratification. To do this, euonymus seeds are washed from the pulp, poured with a pink solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes, then kept in a cool place for 3-4 months (up to +12 °C), and then another 4-5 months in the cold (t from 0 to +3 °C). They are sown in prepared containers in early spring, making small holes or grooves in the soil - up to 2 cm - and then watered. Such seeds germinate in 2-3 weeks. It is advisable to mulch the seedlings with fine peat and water them regularly but moderately.
Reproduction is vegetative
In order not to fool yourself, it is better to propagate euonymus vegetatively. There are several ways - layering, cuttings, dividing the bush. Species whose branches spread along the ground or are located close to it are propagated by layering - for example, European dwarf euonymus, winged euonymus, Fortune, Japanese. The branch is tilted, pinned to the surface, and sprinkled with soil. After 1.5 months it will give roots. Then the branch is separated and planted in the right place. By dividing the bush, low-growing and medium-growing euonymus are propagated, which produce abundant growth and have a superficial root system that spreads shallowly underground. This operation is necessary not only to obtain new plants, but also to rejuvenate old ones. The bush is dug up, a fragment of the rhizome with a shoot is carefully separated and planted in a new place.
Propagation by cuttings
This method can be used to propagate any type of euonymus. Cuttings in late spring - early summer are cut from plants over 4 years old. They must be at least 8-10 cm in length and have at least one internode. To obtain the best result, it is advisable to keep them in a rooter according to the instructions. Next, the cuttings are placed in a greenhouse with ready-made soil (a mixture of leaf soil and sand in a ratio of 1:3), sprinkled with sand on top, watered and covered with film. The roots are formed by autumn, at which time the young seedling can be transplanted to a permanent place.
Rules of care
So, we found out what euonymus is. Where does it grow? This question is also of great importance, as it determines his life preferences. There are just over 200 species of euonymus in the world, of which approximately 80-90 are deciduous. Some species feel comfortable in sunlit areas (Maak's euonymus), others prefer partial shade (warty, European euonymus), and others like shade (Sakhalin, sacred). These features need to be taken into account when choosing a plant for your garden. You can plant an acquired type of euonymus without taking into account its light vagaries, but representatives with variegated leaves in the shade will lose their spectacular coloring, and shade-loving ones in the bright sun will grow slowly and without the splendor of the crown.
But absolutely all types of euonymus do not like an abundance of moisture. They should not be planted where there is stagnation of water or where groundwater is too close to the surface. If there is no other place for this plant on the site, it is necessary to arrange a drainage cushion of expanded clay, crushed stone, and sand in the planting hole. Its thickness depends on the hydrological condition of the area. Water the euonymus moderately, a little more often on hot days than on cool days.
Euonymus is also picky about soil composition. They will not grow beautiful and healthy on acidic soils - only on neutral or slightly alkaline and necessarily light soils. Acidity can be reduced by adding lime, and heavy loams can be lightened by adding sand, manure, or turf soil. Throughout the season, euonymus is fed with organic matter and mineral fertilizers. Then the plants turn out especially lush, bright and beautiful.
European euonymus
Representatives of this species are dwarf, medium and tall. They grow as bushes or trees. Their branches have cork “wings”, and the petioles of the fruit-pods are somewhat shorter than those of other species.
Many gardeners like the European dwarf euonymus for its compactness and beauty of the crown. The photo above shows how tiny these plants are. Most dwarf species are evergreen shrubs. Therefore, in the fall they do not delight with fiery colors, but throughout the year they create beautiful rich green spots on the site. The branches of different varieties of dwarf euonymus can grow upward, forming a neat compact bush up to 1 meter high, or they can spread along the ground, rising only 30-50 cm above it. The leaves of all dwarf euonymus are mostly elongated, dense, leathery, with leafy plastic on top glossy, matte underneath. The plants bloom in mid-summer, and the fruits ripen in early autumn. The European euonymus “red cascade” has great charm. This name was given to the plant for the fantastically beautiful red-raspberry-burgundy-purple fireworks of its autumn foliage. This euonymus is frost-resistant, more unpretentious to the soil than others, tolerant of pruning, loves partial shade and places where there is sun, but not all day.
Features of cultivation
In the forests of Moldova, Ukraine, and Romania, you can often find dwarf European euonymus. Planting and caring for this species are the same as for other representatives of the Euonymus genus. The only thing that is advisable to take into account is the fact that low-growing euonymus prefer shady areas of the garden, or at least partial shade. They are an ideal choice for arranging living fencing, rockeries, and upward-growing dwarf varieties make unique topiary compositions. This beauty reproduces by seeds, layering, dividing the bush, and cuttings.
Dwarf euonymus are not as frost-resistant as their tall counterparts. Some gardeners solve this problem by covering the creeping bushes of the plant with spruce branches in the cold, while others plant baby euonymuses in containers and bring them indoors in winter. The ambient temperature for them in the house should be within +15 ... +16 degrees, air humidity and watering should be moderate. If you place a potted plant near a radiator, it may shed its leaves.
Euonymus warty
What is warty euonymus is best understood by looking at the photo above. It clearly shows growths on the branches and trunk, resembling warts. These formations are needed to improve the breathing of living people. Its second distinctive feature is the mousey “aroma” of flowers. Outwardly, they are completely inconspicuous, small, flat, and thanks to the brownish color of the petals, they seem lifeless. But the fruits of the warty euonymus are as bright and showy as those of other representatives of the genus. Its third feature, useful for propagation by dividing the bush, is a superficial root system with many fibrous roots.
Warty euonymus is a semi-deciduous plant, as its foliage can remain on the branches for up to 7 years. In summer it is green, and in autumn it becomes incredibly beautiful - pink-raspberry-red. The warty euonymus lives for about 50 years, grows slowly, and when it reaches 30 years, it stops growing in size altogether. In temperate latitudes of Russia it is a bush with a maximum height of 3 meters.
Japanese euonymus
This species is notable for the fact that it can be grown both on the site and in an apartment in an ordinary pot. Japanese euonymus makes beautiful bonsai arrangements. Externally, Japanese euonymus, depending on the variety, differ significantly. So, there are species with yellow stains on the leaves (golden euonymus), with whitish ones (silver) or with ordinary green ones. Some leaves have serrated edges. But they bloom and, accordingly, bear fruit rarely. Caring for indoor Japanese euonymus consists of proper watering and providing the necessary lighting. Species with variegated leaves need enough light, and green ones are suitable for apartment window sills where the sun rarely shines. Indoor euonymus plants are watered somewhat more abundantly than outdoor ones, especially in the warm season. In summer, it is advisable to additionally spray your pets with water at room temperature. Indoor Japanese euonymus can hardly tolerate heat; for them, the air temperature should not exceed +20 degrees in summer and +15 in winter. Feeding is carried out according to the general principle. Pruning is carried out if you need to give your euonymus an interesting look, as well as to make the crown thicker and more lush.
In landscape design and in nature
A beautiful, unpretentious plant that can easily withstand the gas pollution and smoke of industrial cities - this is how gardeners characterize European euonymus. All types are used for landscape design, it all depends on the purpose and desired composition. Thus, tall representatives are excellent as landmarks, creeping ones are beautiful and effective as cover plants, and shade-tolerant ones are ideal as hedges. It is especially unique, which is capable of climbing supports to a height of up to 3 meters, clinging to them with its roots. And the European euonymus is good for masking less than aesthetically pleasing places in your garden, for example, a barn. But a veranda or terrace can also be decorated with a spectacular euonymus. Dwarf varieties are excellent for creating ridges, which have become very popular in England.
Not only gardeners, but also wildlife lovers can tell you what euonymus is. Both fjords (especially in Spain, Chile, America), and mountain slopes, for example, in the Himalayas, and floodplains of rivers on Sakhalin, and the edges of forests in the Far East, in China are decorated with beautiful foliage and unusual fruits by the many-sided euonymus.
Pests
Finally, I would like to briefly tell you what diseases euonymus are susceptible to. These plants attract a lot of pests, including scale insects, aphids, moths, hawthorn, spider mites and flat mites. They need to be controlled with appropriate insecticides. Of the diseases of euonymus, the most common is white mold, which appears at high humidity and ambient temperature.
Every person, at least once in his life, stopped in early autumn, frozen in admiration, in front of a small, bright red, openwork blaze, like a fire. This is a miracle of nature, a real pearl of autumn - euonymus.
Description and features of euonymus
Euonymus, as it is called scientifically, and in Russian - euonymus, on the picture It looks best in September, when its leaves turn red but have not yet begun to fall.
These trees have more than 200 varieties, but only 20 varieties grow in the middle climate. But this is quite enough to give your own garden a unique, attractive and full of charm autumn look.
Euonymus – plant decorative, and the variety of its varieties is very great. There are high ones trees, euonymus These varieties are very reminiscent of oak, grow up to 8-10 meters, in tropical areas it can grow to gigantic sizes, second only to sequoia.
The crown of such species is very branched, spreading and, of course, incredibly impressive, often exceeding the 10-meter mark in its diameter.
There are tall, dense shrubs that are ideal for hedges. With single growth, such bushes reach a crown diameter of 5-6 meters.
Very popular in gardens and parks are small branched trees that give the impression of round spherical bushes - with a crown diameter of 2 meters and a height of 2-2.5 meters.
A special place in the large family of euonymus is occupied by its “crawling” species. In fact, these are vines, or ivy. Such euonymus in the garden It will easily cover a terrace or gazebo, for which we are very fond of all gardeners, besides, it never fades, very thick, evergreen leaves.
A special feature of this wonderful ornamental tree is that it feels great in an apartment. Moreover, despite the fact that breeders have bred a couple of varieties specifically for indoors, many plant ordinary bushes in tubs and get excellent results. The creeping variety of euonymus also thrives in apartments and balconies.
This plant blooms in May and June, with a scattering of small light flowers. Flowering is replaced by catkins that look like alder; they, like the leaves, like chameleons, shimmer in all shades of color, from rich green to orange, including yellow and purple.
Planting and propagation of euonymus
Planting euonymus possible both in autumn and spring. It is better to choose a site in partial shade, although, in the absence of scorching sunshine, you can choose a sunny hillock, and variegated euonymus shrub generally prefers plenty of sunlight.
The soil must be neutral or slightly alkaline, fertile and necessarily without close groundwater. The tree does not like acidity in the soil, so if the soil is acidic, you need to add lime.
When planting a “hedge”, you need to expect that the euonymus quickly and strongly grows in width; the distance between the bushes should not be less than one and a half meters.
The hole for the future resident of the garden should be dug 2-2.5 weeks before planting, and its volume should be one and a half to two times the volume of the roots of the seedling. Drainage should be added to the bottom of the hole; a mixture of sand and small pebbles is ideal.
When planting a tree, you should carefully compact the soil so that there are no air pockets at the roots. After landing everything types of euonymus Water abundantly, and watering is needed daily, during the first week of the tree’s life in the garden. Reproduces:
cuttings;
seeds;
bends;
rhizomes;
dividing the bush.
Propagation using taps allows you to create smoothly curving garden compositions, natural gazebos and simply secluded corners.
This is done as follows - low-growing, “mother” shoots are bent to the ground, covered with it, secured, leaving only the very top outside. This is done in early spring, before the buds open.
As for the cuttings, they are cut from the tree in June-July, as a rule, this coincides with the moment of crown formation. The cuttings are placed in a mixture of sand and covered with glass or film. After a couple of months, the plant is ready to be planted in open ground in the garden.
Root suckers, or rhizomes, should be separated in early spring, before buds begin to form. The length of the separated area should not be less than 30-35 cm, and the diameter should not be less than 2-3 cm. Plant root shoots immediately, without burying deeper than 50 cm, the desired depth is 40-45 cm. Water generously and cover with film.
Dividing the bush is ideal for dwarf and indoor euonymus. The procedure is easily tolerated; from one bush you can get 3-4, which, as a rule, quickly become accustomed to their newfound independence. This should be done in a garden in the fall, and in an apartment at any time.
As for seeds, this is the most troublesome method of propagation. They need to be sown in autumn and winter. The shoots appear the following spring, and such shoots begin to look like a decent tree after three or four seasons.
Euonymus care
Euonymus care comes down to two feedings of the tree per season. It is necessary to apply mineral fertilizers in the spring, before buds form, and in the fall, during the winter. The plant does not need additional watering, except in very severe droughts.
You also need to engage in crown formation if you want to have something specific in your garden. This plant loves haircuts very much, reacts to them instantly, starting to branch on the same day that it was trimmed. As for wintering, small ones up to 3-4 years old should be covered for the winter in the same way. as well as their root zone.
Types and varieties of euonymus
Although twenty species of this plant grow well on the territory, gardeners still have their favorite varieties, and there are popular varieties for landscapes of park areas. These include:
This is a two-faced variety, depending on the gardener’s plans or conditions, the tree can become either a dense tree 2-3 meters high, or a spreading tree growing over 6 meters.
The leaves are bright green, iridescent, turning crimson in autumn. The flowers are brown with a pink center and edge. The earrings are red, with all shades of color. It grows slowly, but is very unpretentious, not capricious in terms of lighting and soil composition.
European euonymus
Bushy tree about 5 meters in height. The leaves grow up to 10-15 cm in length, dark emerald, with shimmer. In autumn they turn purple, with orange flashes.
The most favorite variety of breeders, on its basis dwarf, miniature and a number of decorative species have been bred. It is extremely undemanding and grows quickly, easily tolerates gas pollution and urban smog, drought and temperature changes.
Euonymus winged
This is Asian. Small, up to 4 meters in tree shape, with a fairly dense crown, similar to a giant bonsai. When cultivated by bush, the height will be 2-2.5 meters.
Like the leaves in elegant shades of green, the catkins are also silvery green. In autumn it bursts with shades of red and green. It easily tolerates winter and temperature changes, but does not survive drought and hot weather very well.
Euonymus Fortune
The same Asian, Chinese. A favorite of all gardeners and breeders, 10 varieties of liana-shaped euonymus have been bred on its basis. It is a creeping, ivy-like evergreen with large, shiny, smooth, dense leaves.
It reproduces exclusively by vegetative means, but does not require care, however, it will not mind a haircut and a small amount of mineral water.
Japanese euonymus
This species is popularly called pseudolaurel due to the similarity of the leaves to the foliage of laurel. Can grow like home euonymus, in an ordinary large pot, can form a hedge in a park, or can become the central tree in an empty clearing. An absolute all-rounder.
As a tree it grows no lower than 7-8 meters and has a very wide, branched crown. The growth rate of this species is also not small - 20-30 cm per season.
On its basis, 6 varieties of euonymus were bred. The main disadvantage is that this species does not tolerate cold. When temperatures drop below 5 degrees Celsius, the tree dies.
Euonymus winged Compactus
“Daughter” variety of winged euonymus. It has characteristics similar to its predecessor, except for size.
This bushy tree does not exceed 2 meters in height under any circumstances. Very capricious regarding humidity, drought and overheating. Does not tolerate scorching hot places.
Euonymus Emerald
This is a group of decorative hybrid “daughter” varieties of euonymus fortune. Small balls 50-60 cm high. They love a shaping haircut. Very frost-resistant and extremely unpretentious to everything in general. Indispensable when creating “Chinese” corners in the garden.
They have an interesting feature - in the absence of care, namely, formation by haircuts, they throw out individual branches up to 2 meters in length.
Euonymus Gold
Belongs to the “daughter” varietal hybrids of the euonymus fortunea. It is miniature, up to 60 cm in height, but with a certain formation of branches it is capable of vertical gardening of picket fences 1-1.5 m high.
It differs from the others in having bright yellow leaves with a dark green center. It requires absolutely no care and feels great in any weather conditions.
Diseases and pests of euonymus
The main garden pests that strive to “take over” are:
The tree is quite selective to health-improving procedures, but responds well to treatment. Both directly during infection and for prevention using the following drugs:
actellik;
Aktara;
confidor;
fitoverm.
You can also get sick, usually this is:
powdery mildew;
stem rot.
It makes sense to play it safe and carry out disease prevention in the spring and fall, for which the following are ideal:
There should be 3-5 treatments with an interval of 5 to 7 days. In conclusion, it should be noted that even though euonymus is a decorative
It will be a beautiful decoration for any summer cottage. If you want to fill your yard with bright colors, you should definitely plant.
This unique thing will delight you with its beauty even in the autumn, when most of the flowers have already faded.
We invite you to familiarize yourself with the most common varieties of euonymus shrubs.
Greatwing
This variety has fairly large fruit-boxes of raspberry color, which open very beautifully during their ripening period. They become like a beautiful flower.
Important! Euonymus fruits contain a toxic substance, so it is very important to prevent its fruits from getting into the oral cavity and mucous membranes.
In the first half of May, small green flowers become noticeable, forming large inflorescences. They usually ripen in early September, after which the plant's foliage changes color. The beautiful view will delight you until the ground is covered with snow. 
European
European euonymus is quite common. This species loves light and chooses broad-leaved forests for settlement.
The shrub pleases with flowering in June and July. In August, the fruits turn dark burgundy or pink. The seed material is carefully hidden in the orange shoot. The fruits of the plant will not fall until winter, and in the autumn the foliage will illuminate your area with a purple glow.
Today there is a wide variety of European varieties. If you decide to decorate your area with this original plant, you will have plenty to choose from. 
Japanese
Based on the name, it is clear that Japanese euonymus comes from eastern countries. In Korea and China you can find shrubs that differ slightly in shape and color. The Japanese species has oval, dense leaves and orange seeds, located in neat capsules. An adult plant reaches a great height and can grow up to 8 m.
Did you know? If you grow euonymus in a pot, its height will not exceed 1 m.
The shrub grows best in partial shade and responds normally to dry periods. At the end of May, the plant is covered with inconspicuous whitish flowers that have a sour smell. The fruits ripen in the autumn months. 
Warty
Euonymus warty is a plant that is most often found in the lower layers of coniferous or deciduous forests. The shrub grows well in the shade and can reach 6 m in height. However, these are exceptional cases - most often the average height of a bush is 2 m.
The plant is covered with convex growths, from which the name comes.
During flowering, the bush has brown flowers that are held on long petioles. Flowering occurs at the end of May and lasts for a month. The unusual appearance of the plant is given by pink fruits with seeds, which are covered with reddish-brown caps. Such beauty can be observed from August until the arrival of winter cold. The shrub tolerates frost well and is unpretentious, so it is often used to create compositions in landscape design.
Koopmann
This species has a relatively small height - a maximum of 1 m. The plant has green ribbed shoots that have spreading roots.
The leaves of the shrub are elongated, their length ranges from 1.5 to 5 cm. Their surface shines with shine, the structure is leathery, and bluish underneath.
The flowers are green, about 5 mm in size and can be placed singly or in semi-umbrellas. 
Dwarf
The height of this plant fully justifies its name.
The shrub grows a maximum of 30 cm. The leaves are up to 7 cm long, they are quite leathery, and have a green color with a gray tint. The inflorescences are also small in size and have 4 petals.
The flowering period of the shrub is very short and is only one week. Most often this species can be found in Western Ukraine, Moldova, and Crimea. 
Fortune
Fortune's euonymus is one of the popular varieties that attracts the attention of designers with its beauty. The shrub has good endurance and is not afraid of even the most severe frosts.
The plant has lanceolate leaves and small white-red fruits. Such shrubs will decorate any yard or garden plot. Creeping varieties of this species are also found. They are incredibly popular among designers. 
Maaka
This species can most often be found in the regions of Eastern Siberia, Primorye and the northeast of China.
The height of an adult plant can be up to 2 to 8 m. You can enjoy the beauty of euonymus in the autumn, when the bush is hung with graceful pink boxes located on long peduncles.
The purple color of the leaves, up to 8 cm long, makes maaka incredibly beautiful. 
Hamilton
This variety of euonymus reaches a height of up to 3 m, the leaves have an ovate-rhombic or lanceolate shape, their length reaches 10 cm, width - up to 5 cm.
The seeds are in orange-red boxes. The flowering period falls in July, and the fruit ripens in October.
Usually this species can be found on a small river island, in a river valley, on the shores of lakes. The ideal soil for euonymus is sandy sediments. 
broadleaf
The height of the broadleaf euonymus can be from 2 to 5 m. The ideal habitat for the shrub is shady beech and spruce mountain forests in the Crimea.
Thanks to the purple-red boxes hanging on neat long legs, the plant has a very beautiful appearance. The seed material is practically covered with orange shoots.
The shrub attracts attention thanks to its unusual filmy leaves. It is often used in landscape design, decorating local areas and summer cottages. 
Suberic
This type of shrub can please the eye in spring, summer and autumn. Especially in the autumn, when the fruit bears ripen, the euonymus dresses in an incredible, fabulous outfit.
The possibilities of some shrubs in decorating landscape design are truly limitless in the form of their botanical features.
The euonymus shrub is one of the most unpretentious, beautiful and adaptable plants among the arsenal of decorative flora species.
Currently, more than 200 varieties and species are known, which may differ in leaf shape, stem height, color, fruits and buds.
We suggest you understand all the varieties and familiarize yourself with the rules of planting and caring for this beautiful stranger.
Euonymus can be grown almost everywhere; in most of the regions of our country it grows wild, and, accordingly, has excellent adaptability to unfavorable environmental conditions.
If you look at the photo of the euonymus shrub, it becomes clear that landscape designers are passionate about it. In fact, this is a wonderful decorative screen and an excellent background for flowering plants in the summer.
As autumn approaches, the foliage turns an attractive red color, illuminating the garden plot in anticipation of the white witch of winter.
A brief description of the euonymus in the botanical description contains the following information:
- relation to the families - euonymus (Celastraceae);
- the Latin name of the botanical culture is Euonymus;
- depending on the variety, it can be either deciduous (shedding its leaves in the fall) or evergreen (retaining its deciduous mass in the winter);
- after flowering, the fruit forms in the form of a box with leathery walls, seeds are placed inside;
- the buds are not decorative because they are small in size and partially hidden deep in the foliage;
- tetrahedral shoots, lignified with nodular growths;
- the leaf is smooth, regular in shape, changes color during the seasonal growing season from bright green to dark red.
Its varieties and types may differ in both the height of the stems and the shape of the leaf, the absence of fruit with seeds and many other characteristics.
However, planting and care are a set of standard rules for crop farming. But you should carefully choose the appropriate variety based on its resistance to low temperatures, drought, low humidity levels and many other agricultural risk factors.
Planting euonymus and subsequent care of the bush (with photo)
Coverage of this important issue should begin with a description of the available methods of crop propagation. Planting euonymus in a personal plot can be done using previously prepared cuttings or in seedlings by sowing seeds.
The preferred method of propagation is vegetative (by cuttings or rooting branches bent to the ground), since this ensures a rapid increase in green mass and the final result of landscaping.
If it is impossible to purchase cuttings, planting euonymus is carried out using seeds. It is advisable to plant seeds early (late January - early February).
By mid-May there will be strong seedlings, which, with proper care during the summer season, can produce natural growth and rise to a height of up to 40 cm.
To obtain cuttings on your site, you need to bend the young branches to the ground and secure them in this state. Daily watering is provided.
The place of attachment to the ground can be covered with plastic film. This speeds up the process of root system formation.
The photo shows euonymus shrubs grown in exactly this way after vegetative propagation:
Subsequent care of the euonymus shrub includes measures aimed at accelerating the growth of vegetative mass.
This plant is not drought tolerant. Therefore, it is important to ensure regular, adequate watering. On hot summer days, watering should be done 2 times a day - morning and evening.
Before planting, drainage is laid in the soil at a depth of up to 70 cm. This can be fine river pebbles, broken bricks, or gravel. Then a layer of fertile soil mixed with peat or humus is poured, and mineral fertilizers are added.
When caring for euonymus, you should not ignore the possibility of using a mulch layer.
Cut green grass, fallen leaves, processed sawdust - all this helps not only keep the soil moist, but also supplies the bush with the required amount of nutrients.
After the bush reaches an adult state (usually 3-4 years of development), regular pruning of branches is required. Using this agricultural technique, you can achieve an attractive external shape, remove old branches and thin out thickets in order to stimulate the formation of a large number of large fruits.
When forming a hedge from euonymus, pruning is carried out solely for the purpose of shortening rapidly growing shoots.
Planting a hedge requires thickening of the seedlings. The maximum distance between bushes in a single-row planting is 30 cm. When planting two hedges side by side, a staggered planting order is used with a distance between cuttings of 50 cm.
By trimming the central stems, you can speed up the process of growing vegetative mass. To do this, cutting is carried out 10 months after planting.
In the future, using pruning shears, you can regulate the process of root growth.
The disadvantage of euonymus in hedges is that the lower parts of the stems are exposed.
Types and varieties of euonymus for a personal plot (with photo)
For a personal plot, this shrub can be used both in group plantings (to form a hedge) and in single elements.
The vast majority of euonymus species throughout spring and summer are a dense green mass, against which asters, dahlias, gladioli, lilies, roses and other ornamental plants look advantageous.
The shrub reaches its greatest decorative value when the fruits are ripening in a rich red color. Then comes the time for the “game” of the deciduous mass, which changes its color and becomes a real decoration of the garden.
Varieties of euonymus in modern conditions provide a lot of opportunities for decorating a personal plot. Among them there are very short species, and there are also tall types that strive to form a crown like a tree.
European euonymus is a champion in decorative properties!
Most often in personal plots, in parks, gardens and in landscaping any areas you can find this variety, which is a real champion in decorative properties.
This is a European euonymus, which has the Latin name Euonymus europaea L. and has amazing properties of resistance to unfavorable growing conditions.
The shrub grows quickly enough to 5.5 - 7 meters. It has a light ocher bark of shoots with protruding growths of a corky nature.
The main decorative element is ripening fruits in the form of boxes with a bright red color and a leathery shiny texture.
As they ripen, they open and seeds equipped with orange wings begin to hang from them on thin threads.
There is a type of this variety called “Alba”, it is distinguished by the white and cream color of the capsules with ripening seeds.
From a distance in autumn, the European euonymus shrub resembles a flowering plant at a time when the colors of nature are fading. This looks like a real miracle.
The variety is characterized by rapid growth. In the first two years, it can grow a meter in height, if, of course, proper care is provided. Please note that you cannot eat the fruits, leaves and even petals of euonymus buds! This causes poisoning.
Exquisite euonymus "Fortune" - modesty and elegance
Euonymus "Fortune" is a low-growing shrub that is widely used in landscape design. An exquisite leaf with an unusual color, together with creeping stems and low growth, make up a unique bouquet of decorative properties.
The modesty and elegance of the Fortune euonymus is appreciated in all countries of the world. Look at the photo below for examples of using this plant to decorate personal plots:
The leaves are traditional in shape. The color is varied, from bright green to yellow. It is distinguished by the presence of veins of contrasting color, which make the leaves striped.
Used exclusively as a covering soil plant. Flowering is observed extremely rarely due to weather conditions unsuitable for this process. Sometimes green sculptures are formed with the help of supports. But they do not have the decorative effect that other types of suitable plants provide.
The warty euonymus is not inferior to the winged euonymus!
Euonymus verrucosa or warty euonymus is actually a unique plant that creates a simply unreal impression in the winter garden.
But even in summer, the shrub, with a height of up to 2 meters, amazes with its magnificent openwork crown, which provides life-saving shade for flowering plants. It is not inferior in its beauty, elegance and attractiveness to another less common species.
This is the winged euonymus (Euonymus alata), characterized by a special elliptical leaf shape. Slow growth is the main disadvantage. But the plant is shade-tolerant. The growth of the stem per year can reach only 12-15 cm.
Representatives of the euonymus genus can be found in both hemispheres in areas with temperate and subtropical climates. Thanks to its extraordinary decorativeness, combined with unpretentiousness and winter hardiness, euonymus has won a place in many gardens and parks. Let's take a closer look at this plant - I hope it will win your heart too.
Description, use in landscape design
Euonymus (lat. Euonymus, English spindle tree) is a deciduous or evergreen shrub or low tree. The flowers are small and inconspicuous. When ripe, the fruits become brightly colored, usually yellow or various shades of red.
In spring and summer, the euonymus amazes with its amazing openwork crown. Branches and leaves gracefully bend and intertwine. This feature of euonymus can be used to add airiness to landscape compositions. Also, many types of euonymus (for example, winged euonymus) will fit perfectly into. In addition, some species of this genus can be used to create bonsai (for example, Japanese euonymus).
Euonymus blooms profusely in late spring or early summer with small flowers. We can say that the flowers are almost invisible, but lovers of discreet beauty will appreciate their simple charm.
The modesty of euonymus flowering is fully compensated by the bright autumn color of its fruits and leaves. Spectacular fruits are formed from dull flowers. They are capsules on long petioles, from which black seeds appear, surrounded by a dense apex. By September, the fruits are painted in bright colors: carmine, orange, raspberry, pink. The extraordinary fruits of the euonymus will not leave anyone indifferent.
But, of course, the hallmark of the euonymus is the color of its autumn leaves - crimson, purple, pink, brick-red. In just a week, the green foliage flashes shades of red. Most euonymus are uniformly colored, but some have multi-colored spots (European euonymus). When choosing a place to plant euonymus, it is worth taking into account that in the sun the color of the leaves will be more saturated than in the shade.
The euonymus is perfectly trimmed, so it is great for creating a living one. Possible options:
- European euonymus: free-growing - 2-3 m, clipped 1-2 m
- Winged euonymus: free-growing - 1-2 m, clipped 1-2 m, 0.5-1 m
- Winged euonymus ‘Compactus’: free-growing - 0.5-1 m, clipped 0.5-1 m
Among the types of euonymus, it is especially worth noting the creeping shrub Euonymus Fortune, used in landscape design. Many varieties of this species are used as ground cover under tree canopies. It is also possible to use them for vertical gardening.
Most euonymuses have a superficial root system, which allows them to be used to strengthen ravines, steep banks and man-made slopes.
Don't forget that almost all types of euonymus are poisonous!
Some types of euonymus
Euonymus verrucosus (lat. Euonymus verrucosus). Deciduous shrub 1-2 m high. The first 15 years grow most actively, the maximum age is about 50 years. The branches are covered with numerous growths, thanks to which the warty Euonymus got its name. In nature, this species is distributed in deciduous forests throughout Eurasia. That is, the warty Euonymus winters well in central Russia. Prefers fertile soil rich in lime. It is shade-tolerant and generally unpretentious. The small, smooth, finely serrated leaves turn a beautiful pink-red color in the fall. The carmine fruit boxes, characteristic of many representatives of the Euonymus genus, complement the unusual autumn appearance of this plant.
Winged euonymus (lat. Euonymus alatus). A dense and wide deciduous shrub up to 2-3 m high. Winged euonymus is so called because of the characteristic longitudinal cork outgrowths (wings) on tetrahedral shoots. In nature it grows in open areas and in mixed forests in the Far East, Japan and China. Winged euonymus is at its most decorative in the fall, when the elliptical leaves turn a vibrant purple color—a great late-season accent to your garden. Bright original fruit boxes appear against the background of still green foliage and remain until winter. Light-loving, but tolerates some shading. It is not picky about soil, is winter-hardy (zone 4) and gas-resistant. A well-known varietal form is Euonymus winged ‘Compactus’. This is a shrub with a spherical crown up to 1 m.
European euonymus (lat. Euonymus europaeus). Deciduous shrub or tree 2-6 m high. In nature, it grows mainly in light forests, groves and on the edges. The foliage changes color unevenly in autumn - yellow, purple, pink, and orange leaves can be seen at the same time. By October, the overall color of the crown begins to approach one color - red. European euonymus is winter-hardy (zone 4), light-loving compared to other species, and tolerates alkaline soils.
Fortune's euonymus (lat. Euonymus fortunei). A creeping evergreen shrub native to China. Mostly varietal forms are grown in gardens. Representatives of the Euonymus Fortune species are less frost-resistant than other species of the Euonymus genus (zones 5, 6). But many varieties winter in central Russia due to the fact that they are completely covered with snow. In addition, frozen shoots are restored by summer. However, this heat-loving species blooms very rarely in such a climate.
When buying Euonymus Fortune, be careful: some unscrupulous sellers, under the guise of this plant, sell another plant - periwinkle.
Some popular varieties of frost resistance zone 6A (withstands frosts without snow cover from -20.6 C to -23.3 C):
Dwarf euonymus (lat. Euonymus nanus). Semi-evergreen shrub up to 1 m high. The shoots are thin, the leaves are narrow, lanceolate. The small flowers are reddish in color and the fruits are pink. Photophilous, prefers fertile, well-drained soils. Winter hardiness is high (zone 4). By grafting Euonymus dwarf onto Euonymus europaea, you can get a beautiful weeping standard form.
Cork euonymus (lat. Euonymus phellomanus). The shrub reaches 5 m in height. The shoots have longitudinal cork wings. The leaves are lanceolate, up to 10 cm long. Like other euonymuses, it has very decorative fruits. It is not picky about soil and tolerates partial shading. Frost resistance zone 6A.
Maack's euonymus (lat. Euonymus maackii). Deciduous shrub up to 3 m or tree up to 10 m in height. In nature, it is distributed in the Far East, Eastern Siberia, China and Japan. It grows in river valleys, on sand dunes and in sparse deciduous forests. This is why Euonymus Maaka prefers light soils and does not like shading. In illuminated areas, it resembles a standard plant - an oval crown on a long trunk. In the conditions of central Russia, it winters without shelter. The peak of decorativeness is autumn, as with other euonymuses. Bright leaves fall after the first frost, and unusual fruits only after a stable negative temperature has been established.
Japanese euonymus (lat. Euonymus japonicus). Evergreen tree or shrub 2-8 m in height. In nature, it grows in rare forests and river valleys in Japan, Korea and China. In Russia it is cultivated mainly as a houseplant due to its heat-loving nature. Frost resistance zone 7A (withstands frosts without snow cover from -15 C to -17.8 C). Residents of southern Russia can try to grow Japanese Euonymus in open ground, but the climate in most of Russia is completely unsuitable for it. You shouldn’t torture yourself and the plant, because there are analogues that are not inferior to this species in terms of decorative qualities, but are also winter-hardy.
Euonymus propagation
Euonymus can be propagated in many ways. The most patient can try growing from seeds. They need to be planted immediately after harvest or in the spring, but then soaking and stratification are required for six months.
A less labor-intensive way to propagate euonymus is by cuttings. At the beginning of summer, cuttings with at least one internode are cut from a plant at least 5 years old. Next, they are planted in loose, fertile soil and covered with film - by the beginning of autumn, the cuttings will be ready for planting in a permanent place.
Another method is by root suckers. Not very tall root shoots with a thickness of at least 150 mm with a root 0.2-0.3 m long are cut off in early spring, when the soil has just thawed. They can be planted immediately in a permanent place.
Dwarf varieties can also be propagated by dividing the bush. To do this, you just need to separate part of the shoots with a shovel, shorten the shoots and plant the plant in a new place.
Euonymus seedlings are ideally planted in the spring, but if necessary, they can be planted in the fall.
Euonymus care
Most types of euonymus are unpretentious and do not require special care. They only need moderate fertilizing with mineral fertilizers twice a year. The euonymus responds to pruning with abundant branching. To admire the decorative fruits of the euonymus in the fall, you need to prune it in early spring or after fruiting.
Finally
Euonymus looks graceful in spring and summer, and in autumn creates an expressive appearance in the garden thanks to its brightly colored foliage and unusual fruits. It can be used in compositions, as a tapeworm, and even formed into a hedge. At the same time, euonymus is not a capricious plant at all and will fit perfectly into a low-maintenance garden. I am sure that if you decide to grow this wonderful plant on your site, you will not regret it!
