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Wintercreeper Euonymus fortunei 'Silver Queen'

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
yoo-ON-ih-mus for-TOO-nee-eye
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

This plant is identified as one of the smaller evergreen shrubs in the Euonymus genus (a group of plants with similar characteristics). However, various sources list its height as ranging from 2 to 8 feet. It easily spreads and can be grown as a shrubby ground cover. It can take up to 5 to 10 years to reach its full growth. In nature, the plant is often found in forest or natural areas in mixed deciduous forests and low woodlands; weedy in disturbed areas around houses and buildings.

Euonymus prefers full sun to medium shade, moist to dry-mesic conditions, and soil containing loam, clay-loam, sand, and gravelly material. It tolerates heavy shade, is pH adaptable, and is easily transplanted from woody cuttings and tolerates a variety of soils other than wet ground.

It has small, pale green flowers that attract bees and often has attractive fall foliage. The foliage is glossy, elongated, and dark green with contrasting white margins. In cold weather the leaves often becomes tinged with purplish pink.  The berries resulting from the flowers are eaten by birds and the seeds are spread into the woodlands, with resulting shrub growth which can disrupt native plant habitats. The shrubs are difficult to eradicate. See shrubs listed to the left that also have variegated cultivars and are better behaved than this one.

Deer also like the plant. If used, spread can be reduced by planting it in shadier areas which slow or reduces the number of flowers and resulting seeds, thus reducing spread by birds. The foliage is the main attraction to the shrub.  

A number of plants in this genus are poisonous and caution is advised. Avoid eating any parts of this plant in large quantities. The berries in particular should not be eaten by humans. The berries are eaten by some birds which is how the plant is spread and often how it becomes more invasive.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Scale and winter leaf burn can be a problem. Susceptible to anthracnose, powdery mildew, aphids, and crown gall.

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:
Mountain Ridge Top Garden - North Lawn and Upper Drive Border
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#poisonous#full sun tolerant#shrub#deciduous shrub#salt tolerant#high maintenance#fast growing#deer browsing plant#variegated#partial shade tolerant#weed
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#poisonous#full sun tolerant#shrub#deciduous shrub#salt tolerant#high maintenance#fast growing#deer browsing plant#variegated#partial shade tolerant#weed
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Euonymus
    Species:
    fortunei
    Family:
    Celastraceae
    Life Cycle:
    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:
    Attractive Flowers
    Wildlife Food Source
    Climbing Method:
    Twining
    Edibility:
    Toxic when ingested in large quantities.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Poisonous
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Climbing
    Dense
    Multi-stemmed
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    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
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Orange
    Pink
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Fertile flowers are replaced by seed capsules that become mature during the autumn. Mature reddish, pink, ivory to yellow capsules are white, globoid, and about ¼ 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
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Insignificant
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Dome
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Small, greenish white flowers. The flower is about 1/4 inch with four petals which may be dome shaped or flat. Flowers develop from the axils of mature leaves; their peduncles (basal stalks) are up to 4" long, while their pedicels are up to ½" long. Both peduncles and pedicels are light green, hairless, and terete. The blooming period occurs during the summer for about 3 weeks.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Leathery
    Smooth
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Oblong
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Metallic, dark green leaves with creamy yellow margins. Leaves occur at intervals along the young shoots; densely distributed and rather leathery in texture. The leaf tips are acute to blunt, while the leaf bases are rounded, truncate, or cuneate (wedge-shaped). On shoots with immature leaves, the leaves are often conspicuously whitened along the central and lateral veins; flowers and fruits are not produced on such shoots. On shoots with mature leaves, the leaves are less whitened or green along the central and lateral veins; these shoots usually produce flowers and fruits.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Dark Gray
    Bark Description:
    Gray-brown, thin, initially smooth.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Zig Zags
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Older branches become reddish brown, rough-textured, and woody, while young shoots are green, terete, glabrous, and rather stiff.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Recreational Play Area
    Rock Wall
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Children's Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Hedge
    Attracts:
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Salt
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Weedy
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Toxic if eaten in large quantities. Can cause vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, chills, coma, and convulsions.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Unidentified, possibly a glycoside
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Bark
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Roots
    Sap/Juice
    Seeds
    Stems