Winged Euonymus Compactus

Бересклет крылатый Компактус Euonymus alatus Compactus – a cultivar of the species winged euonymus of the genus Euonymus. The cultivar was introduced to the market by J. W. ADAMS, Springfield, Mass., USA.

It is a dense, deciduous, vertically growing, branched shrub with a domed crown. Grows slowly, reaching 1 м in height, 2-3 м in diameter. Roots are very thin and densely branched, superficial, with a large number of fine roots; they are sensitive to soil compaction and mechanical damage.

Leaves are opposite, the leaf tips or the leaves themselves are turned downward, elliptic, 4-6 см long, about 2 см wide, petiole about 3 см. The green foliage of Compactus changes to fantastic shades of red and in autumn becomes a bright red spot.

Flowers are simple, greenish-yellow, grouped in umbels of three, appearing in May-June in large numbers but inconspicuous.

Fruits are four-angled capsules that, after ripening, become bright orange. After ripening they split open, forming parachutes under which several seeds hang. They look very striking against green foliage.

Hardiness zone: 4 (-34°С)

Location: Prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade. It also tolerates shade, but autumn colors will then be less vivid. Does not tolerate waterlogging. Can grow in shaded places. Resistant to gas and smoke.

Soil: Tolerates all cultivated, well-drained, not too dry garden soils, from acidic to slightly alkaline; not demanding regarding pH, prefers evenly moist, fertile substrates. Does not tolerate waterlogging. Can grow in shaded places. Resistant to gas and smoke.

Care: Responds well to pruning, easily transplanted. Requires regular feeding with a complete mineral fertilizer. Can be damaged by various pests, against which control is carried out at first appearance. Regarding the toxicity of the fruits, they are not as dangerous as sometimes portrayed. Euonymus fruits do contain a number of poisonous alkaloids, but one would have to eat many to be poisoned.

Propagation: Can be propagated by seeds, which should be sown in late autumn or in spring after 4-5 months of stratification. It can also be rooted in sand by layering, by root suckers or by cuttings. Evergreen species root poorly throughout the year. Sometimes grafting onto European euonymus can be used in February in greenhouses.

Diseases: powdery mildew

Pests: Quite heavily damaged by pests; the most common are euonymus scale, various species of aphids, mealybug, codling moth, hawthorn moth, spider mite and red flat mite. Interestingly, on euonymus planted next to fruit trees one can observe a large number of caterpillars, while the nearby apple trees remain completely clean.

Uses: as a plant for a neat clipped hedge, as a specimen, in flower beds, borders, on rockeries; looks spectacular in tree-and-shrub compositions. Responds well to formative pruning. As a plant that fills space and gives lightness to a composition. Recommended for small private gardens. Grows well in urban conditions.