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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Distylium Distylium
Euonymus fortunei 'Silver Queen' Variegated leaves
Euphorbia cotinifolia Euphorbia cotinifolia form
Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety' has some common disease problems:
Euonymus Scale

Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety'

Phonetic Spelling
yoo-ON-ih-mus for-TOO-nee-eye
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
Description

This is one of the smaller broad leaf evergreen shrubs in the Euonymus genus (a group of plants with similar characteristics). It is bushy and slowly grows to about 5 feet tall with a 6 foot spread at maturity. However, if it is supported by a wall or trellis, it will climb. It has small leaves and Inconspicuous, greenish-white flowers that appear in early summer. It has red colored berries and good fall color. If grown in partial shade, it will encourage variegated leaves.

The shrub grows easily with average, medium moisture in well-drained soils with full sun to part shade. It will tolerate significant amounts of shade and a wide range of soils and soil conditions, except for wet ones. Once established, these plants tolerate some drought and urban conditions. The plant can spread aggressively with stems that root where they touch the ground. The 'Emerald Gaiety', like other shrubs in this genus, requires attention to prevent spreading. Even with removal of stems, birds spread the seeds widely into the woodlands where the shrub can overgrow native plants. Spread can be reduced by planting it in shadier areas which slows or reduces the number of flowers and resulting seeds. The plant can be trimmed annually after flowering to maintain an attractive shape.

Like other species of Euonymus, this shrub can be toxic if large amounts of any part of it are eaten.

Diseases, Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

Euonymus scale can be a significant problem and should be treated if it appears. Anthracnose, crown gall, leaf spot, mildew and aphids can also be problems. Birds like the seeds and deer like the plant.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.

 

More information on Euonymus fortunei.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#poisonous#full sun tolerant#shrub#slow growing#broadleaf evergreen#spreading#variegated#partial shade tolerant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#poisonous#full sun tolerant#shrub#slow growing#broadleaf evergreen#spreading#variegated#partial shade tolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Euonymus
    Species:
    fortunei
    Family:
    Celastraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    East Asia, China, Japan, and Korea.
    Distribution:
    Introduced to the Eastern United States.
    Wildlife Value:
    Birds are attracted to the seeds in the fall.
    Play Value:
    Wildlife Food Source
    Edibility:
    Toxic when eaten in large quantities.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Poisonous
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Rounded
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Mature seed capsules are white, globoid, and about ΒΌ inch across. Eventually, they split open to reveal fleshy arils that are orange to red; solitary seeds occurs within these arils.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Dome
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Small, greenish white flowers will bloom in early summer. The flower is about 1/4 inch with four petals which may be dome shaped or flat.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Pink
    White
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Smooth
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Pink
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Colorful 1 3/4 inch diameter evergreen leaves are ovate (longish oval) with serrated, tooth-like margins; blue-green leaves with white margins and a pink tinge in fall and winter. The leaf is called variegated due to its coloring variations.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Dark Gray
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Zig Zags
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Shade Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Hedge
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Black Walnut
    Drought
    Problems:
    Invasive Species
    Poisonous to Humans
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, chills, coma, and convulsions can result if eaten in large quantities.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Unidentified, possibly a glycoside
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Bark
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Sap/Juice
    Stems