Euonymus fortunei Blondy

Synonyms: Beresklet Blondy, Euonymus Blondy, Bruslina Blondі, Beresklet Blondy, Bruslina Blondy, Beresklet Interbolwi, Bruslina Interbolwi, Euonymus Interbolwi, Euonymus fortunei Interbolwi Blonde.

Euonymus fortunei Blondy (Euonymus fortunei Blondy) – a cultivar of the species Euonymus fortunei in the genus Euonymus. The cultivar was first discovered by gardener Gus Bolwijn (Gus Bolwijn). He found a branch that differed in leaf color and shape on the Euonymus fortunei 'Sunspot' cultivar (Euonymus fortunei 'Sunspot').

It is a deciduous shrub 30-60 cm in height. Growth rate is medium. Branches root well when in contact with the soil, forming a beautiful carpet. They can also climb trees, rough walls or natural stone, wooden stairways and can reach a height of up to 2 m.

Root system: shallow-spreading, well developed; some main roots are deep; resistant to soil compaction.

Leaves elliptical or broadly ovate, up to 4 cm in length and 2.8 cm in width, glossy, variegated, dark green with a large intense white-yellow blotch in the center, oppositely arranged, elliptical or broadly ovate, length 4 cm and width 2.8 cm.

Flowers small, inconspicuous, green-yellow in inflorescences. Blooms in June–July.

Hardiness zone: 6a (-34°C)

Location: Prefers light but tolerates partial shade. Also tolerates shade, but autumn colors will then be less bright. 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: Pruning is carried out twice a year in spring and summer to form denser bushes and to promote the growth of young, more brightly colored shoots. We also recommend mulching 5-7 cm, preferably with well-rotted manure or compost around the base of the plant. When planting Euonymus Blondy as a groundcover, we recommend planting it at a distance of 60 cm from each other.

Propagation: Can be propagated by seeds, which should be sown outdoors in autumn or in spring after 4–5 months of stratification. Can also be rooted in sand by layering, by root suckers or by cuttings. Evergreen species root poorly throughout the year. Sometimes grafting in February in greenhouses onto Euonymus europaeus is used.

Diseases: Powdery mildew, necrosis of branches and trunks. To protect the plant from diseases and fungal infections, plants should be treated with fungicides (Skor, Switch, Maxim, Ordan, Chorus, Quadris, Ridomil Gold, etc.).

Pests: An untreated plant may be affected by the green leafroller and certain fruit case moths. To protect the plant from pests, a preventive spring spray with insecticides is carried out (Aktara, Engeo, Actellic). Compared to the voracious grub of the May chafer, other pests on a well-maintained plant are encountered rarely. Over the past 10 years the chafer, especially on humus-rich, weed-free soils, has become the most dangerous pest of garden plants in Ukraine. One chafer larva can in one day gnaw through the root system of a young 10-30 cm seedling, completely destroying it. From mid-April it is necessary to treat the crown with any of the numerous imidacloprid-based preparations, for example Prestige (Bayer), Antikhrushch; part of the solution must be applied to the trunk (10 cm above the soil) and to the root collar and not poured to the side. Such treatments are repeated every 40–50 days during the growing season. Drenching into the soil according to the instructions is also effective; Aktara (active ingredient - 240 g/l thiamethoxam; 250 g/kg thiamethoxam) is also effective. Treatment of the crown and drenching at the root collar in the soil from late April to September once every 40–60 days.

Uses: Resistant to urban conditions, tolerates pressure from the roots of other trees. When used as a groundcover, Euonymus prevents weed growth. Can be used as a groundcover, as a climber and as a shrub. It can be planted in window boxes and containers, to green the soil surface between trees, in rock gardens and alpine troughs, to create evergreen low borders, in color compositions and mixed borders. The allee form is recommended for urban landscaping and as a specimen on private properties. It is also possible to create a decorative living border; the plant responds well to clipping, so it is easy to give it a neat shape. Euonymus fortunei Blondy will fill the summer with variegated, cheerful, bright colors and will add orange with pink speckles to the color palette in the winter period.