Fortune's spindle (Euonymus fortunei)

Synonyms: Еuonymus fortunei (Turcz.) Hand.-Mazz, Elaeodendron fortunei Turczaninow, Euonymus fortunei var. acuminatus F. H. Chen & M. C. Wang, E. fortunei var. patens (Rehder) Handel-Mazzetti, E. hederaceus Champion ex Bentham, E. japonicus Thunberg var. acutus Rehder, E. japonicus var. chinensis Pampanini, E. japonicus var. radicans Miquel, E. kiautschovicus Loesener, E. kiautschovicus var. patens (Rehder) Loesener, E. patens Rehder, E. radicans (Miquel) Siebold ex Handel-Mazzetti var. alticola Handel-Mazzetti, E. wensiensis J. W. Ren & D. S. Yao.

Fortune's euonymus (Euonymus) - a species of evergreen plants of the genus Euonymus (Euonymus) in the family Celastraceae. In the wild it grows in China, where it reaches altitudes of 3400 m and above above sea level. Distributed in China (Anhui, Fujian, Hebei, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xinjiang, Yunnan), Zhejiang [India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam; cultivated in Africa, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America]. First cultivated in 1907 on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus and in Ukraine. Mesophyte, mesotroph, eutroph.

It is a creeping evergreen semi-shrub, less often a dwarf tree (up to 10 m in height) with a sprawling or ascending crown on the ground or on rock. In height, in the creeping form, it reaches 20-40 cm. Shoots are rounded or pubescent, brown or green-brown in color.

Leaves opposite, densely arranged on the branches. Petioles 2-9 mm long, sometimes sessile. Leaf blade ovate or ovate-elliptic, 2-5.5 x 2-3.5 cm, glabrous, leathery, glossy, dark green, cuneate, often with a crenate, less often finely toothed, slightly recurved margin, with an obtuse base and an acuminate apex. Lateral veins invisible, arranged in 4-6 pairs. There are many ornamental forms differing in foliage coloration.

Flowers small, up to 5 mm in diameter. Flower stalk up to 5 mm long, bearing several flowers. Petals 4 in number, rounded, greenish or whitish. Sepals round. Blooms from April to June.

Fruits – small flattened-globose capsules, 5-6 mm in diameter, from red to reddish-brown, wingless. Fruits from September to December.

Forms: E.fortunei var. radicans (Miq.) Rehder

Cultivars: 'Coloratus', 'Dart's Blanket', 'Dart's Carpet', 'Emerald Gaiety', 'Emerald Gold', 'Gracilis', 'Minimus', 'Sunspot', 'Sunshine', 'Silver Queen', 'Surth', 'Vegetus', 'Variegatus' ('Gracilis'), 'Silver Gem' ('Argenteo-marginatus'), 'Argenteo-Variegata', 'Aureo-Variegata', 'Harlequin', 'Golden Harlequin'.

Hardiness zone: 4a (-34.4°C).

Exposure: sun-loving. Some deciduous species can grow in shade, but they lose their ornamental value – they flower less well and lose bright leaf coloration in autumn. Evergreen species prefer to grow in partial shade, and in southern locations require protection from the midday hot sun. Moisture-loving, but drought-tolerant and do not like waterlogged conditions. Undemanding to soil, grow on ordinary well-drained garden soils, prefer slightly alkaline. Tolerant of urban conditions.

Planting: the best time to plant is early spring. The hole should be twice as large as the root system. Soil mixture – leaf mould, peat-compost and sand in proportions 1:2:1 with the addition of wood ash or lime. During the rooting period it requires frequent watering – the soil must not be allowed to dry out, but overwatering should also be avoided. After rooting, watering can be reduced.

Care: fairly drought-tolerant, therefore to maintain ornamental value it is sufficient to perform 3-4 abundant waterings during severe drought. Needs soil loosening and mulching.

Pruning: Tolerates trimming and pruning well. Pruning can be carried out at any time; most often only sanitary pruning is performed. Variegated forms require removal of shoots that differ from the main mass.

Propagation: propagated only vegetatively – by cuttings and layering. Cuttings are recommended from August to October.

Diseases: powdery mildew (affected rather rarely).

Pests: is quite heavily damaged by pests, among the most common are Euonymus scale, various species of aphids, mealybugs, codling moth, hawthorn moth, spider mite and red flat mite. Interestingly, on Euonymus planted near fruit trees one can observe a large number of caterpillars, while the nearby apple trees remain completely clean.

Uses: used as a groundcover or container plant. Suitable for creating borders, rock gardens, balcony plants. Can overwinter indoors. If provided with support, it can climb it.