Euonymus: photo and description of the bush

Euonymus is a tree or shrub with a very characteristic and striking appearance. Euonymus leaves can change color throughout the season, and its fruits make a wonderful addition to the fall garden. This plant is widespread due to its use in landscape design. Next, various varieties, photos and descriptions of euonymus will be presented.

Euonymus – edible or not

The answer to the question of whether the euonymus is poisonous or not has long been found. Almost all types of euonymus are poisonous. In addition, its fruits have a very unattractive taste that causes a gag reflex.

The concentration of toxic alkaloids in the fruits and stems of the plant is not so high, therefore, in order to be poisoned by them, you need to eat a fairly large amount of berries, which, given their extremely unpleasant taste, is highly unlikely. And, nevertheless, the plant should be handled quite carefully, preventing its juice from getting on the mucous membranes.

In addition, children may have age-related taste distortion, and the amount of shrub berries eaten can be quite large.

Symptoms of euonymus poisoning can be very varied, but always include vomiting, diarrhea and intestinal pain. Actually, this is not surprising, since poisoning with a large amount of poison leads to intestinal bleeding.

Help provided at home for such poisoning will be completely ineffective, so you should definitely call an ambulance service. Poisoning with euonymus venom is lethal, so you should not ignore such symptoms at the slightest suspicion that the victim has come into contact with euonymus fruits.

Types and varieties of euonymus with photos

The shrub in question belongs to the Euonymus plant family of the same name. It has about a hundred genera and about one and a half thousand species. There are 142 species directly belonging to the Euonymus genus, approximately 25 of which grow on the territory of the Russian Federation.

The most widespread are 2 species that have taken root well in the middle zone: Euonymus warty and European. Their main habitat is the boundaries of mixed forests.

Euonymus can be either a deciduous or an evergreen plant. Its stems often have a characteristic ribbing, but sometimes rounded shoots are also found. The leaves of the euonymus are always arranged oppositely.

The small flowers, although inconspicuous (predominantly dark green or brownish in color), are very numerous. They are collected in 4-5 pieces in inflorescences such as a brush or corymb. Euonymus fruits are four-parted capsules colored orange, bright red or red-brown. They can be seen from afar and are very attractive in most varieties of euonymus.

Euonymus is mainly used in landscape design as a hedge; The photo shows an example of such a design solution:

Next, we will present the most common varieties of euonymus used for decorating gardens, parks and personal plots.

Euonymus Harlequin

A low plant with dense branches, occupying a fairly large area. Height - up to half a meter. Capable of weaving around fences up to 1.5 m high. It is an evergreen plant (does not shed it in winter). The actual color of its leaves is variegated, including white, green and pink shades. The leaves are small, up to 4 cm long and 3 cm wide.

Refers to creeping varieties. Its ideal use is as a border or alpine slide. Prefers partial shade, but can also grow in full sun. Requires neutral soil.

Euonymus macroptera

Ornamental trees and shrubs of Euonymus macroptera can reach up to 9 m in height. The plant has flat shoots of a wide variety of colors. Dark green or blue-violet shades predominate. A feature of the shoots is the presence of small warty growths.

The plant blooms in late spring. The inflorescences are quite large (up to 21 flowers in one inflorescence) and clearly visible, which is not typical for many varieties of euonymus. The fruits are boxes of various shades of red. The name of the plant comes from the characteristic “wings” of the fruit.

Euonymus Variegata

A variety bred in Japan. A characteristic feature is leaves edged with white or yellowish color. It is mainly cultivated as a houseplant, but in southern regions or regions with mild winters it can be grown in open ground. The temperature at which the plant does not die must be at least -10 °C.

It belongs to low shrubs, the height of which does not exceed 50-60 cm. It does not like waterlogging; the roots may even begin to rot. Requires regular transplants every 3-4 years.

Euonymus climbing

A variety intended for braiding fences and MAFs. Prefers sunny areas, grows very slowly in the shade. The length of the shoots can reach 4 m. It has several varieties, including dwarf ones, with shoots no more than 1 m high, used as cover plants.

Without additional supports, it can independently weave objects up to 1 m high. Prefers slightly alkaline soils. Due to high growth rates, it requires abundant watering and frequent fertilizing - up to 1-2 times a month.

Hamilton Euonymus

The plant's homeland is Central Asia; however, the plant thrives in temperate climates and was even brought to the USA. The peculiarity of cultivation is the absolute unpretentiousness of the species.

The height, depending on growing conditions, can reach from 3 to 20 m. The inflorescences have 4 large flowers.Due to their large number, flowering occurs for almost three months from April to July. Fruiting is from August to November. All this time the plant has a very attractive appearance.

Euonymus yellow

The bush of this variety has a spherical shape. The diameter of the “ball” can reach up to 1 m. The shoots are strong and straight. The leaves are up to 5 cm long and up to 3 cm wide. A characteristic feature is the yellow color of the foliage, which it acquires within a few weeks of blooming.

Requires loose and dry soils. Prefers sunny areas, in partial shade the growth rate is reduced by 10-20%, however, the bush is able to reach the same size as in the sun.

Euonymus green

The plant is native to Southeast Asia. It is a tree-like shrub, reaching a height of up to 5 m. When grown, it rarely reaches 2.5 m. It is classified as an evergreen. Leaves are up to 7 cm long and 3 cm wide.

In landscape design it is used mainly to form hedges. Dwarf forms are ideal for borders. It can grow on rocky soil and go without water for a long time.

Euonymus Siebold

Shrub, up to 4 m high. In cold climates - no more than 2 m. It has dense leaves of quite large sizes (up to 17 cm in length and 9 cm in width). The flowers are large, up to 15 mm in diameter, the inflorescences are also not small: they contain up to 17 flowers.

Flowering occurs at the end of May. Despite the inconspicuousness of the flowers (they are light green), the plant is transformed due to their large number. Flowering duration is up to 1 month, after which fruiting begins.The number of fruits is very large, which makes the plant a very attractive option for certain design solutions.

Euonymus dwarf

Refers to evergreen ornamental plants with small shoots. Their height rarely exceeds 0.4-0.5 m. However, occasionally vertical shoots can reach up to 1 m. The leaves of this variety are 3-4 cm long, they are narrow (no more than 1 cm wide) and finely toothed .

Prefers shade, does not like sun. Even in partial shade it grows very slowly. It is a long-lived plant, can live up to 60 years. Decorative trees and shrubs of dwarf euonymus are used both for the design of borders and for filling flower beds and mixborders.

Koopman's euonymus

It belongs to the “semi-evergreen” shrubs of low stature. The height of the shoots rarely exceeds 1 m. It has a transparent crown with a slight degree of thickening. The shoots are predominantly white-green. The leaves are very narrow, up to 10 cm long.

Flowering occurs in May, fruiting in August. During these periods the plant is very decorative. The lifespan of one plant is 25-30 years. It is used to create small borders, rock gardens and ridges.

Euonymus Compactus

An ornamental dense shrub with a wide crown and leaves, the color of which changes to pink-red in autumn. It has a height of no more than 120 cm, however, the crown diameter can reach 2 m. It prefers to grow on sandy loam and loam, which is not typical for euonymus.

Very photophilous, performs well in sunny areas. It tolerates shearing and pruning normally, so it can be used as a low formable hedge. Sanitation is required twice a season due to high growth rates.

Euonymus red

A variety of British origin. A large shrub, with spreading shoots, up to 4 m high and 2-3 m in diameter. When grown for a long time, it can “turn” from a shrub into a tree. The foliage changes color twice a season: in late summer it becomes slightly purple, and in mid-autumn it turns into a bright purple carpet.

Grows in sun or partial shade. Undemanding to soil types. It can grow even on excessively moist soils and in urban environments. Used as part of a flower bed design or as a free-standing plant.

Euonymus Maak

It belongs to deciduous shrubs that can reach up to 10 m in height. Often the central shoot turns into a kind of “trunk”, which is why this variety is often classified as a tree. Leaves are up to 12 cm long, 8 to 30 mm wide. It is of Far Eastern origin.

Prefers sunny areas and moist soils with neutral acidity. Can grow on sandy soils. Ornamental trees and shrubs of Euonymus Poppy are mainly used as free-standing plants or in flower ensembles in flower beds.

Beresklet Maksimovich

A fairly large shrub, and in rare cases a tree. The height of the bush form is up to 4 m, the height of the tree is up to 7 m. It belongs to varieties that change color. In September, the leaves change color from light green to purple. Its fruits have the same color and after the leaves fall off they help the plant maintain its decorative appearance. Flowering begins in May and lasts up to 1 month.

The plant has a low growth rate. So, fruiting occurs after 10 years of life. Prefers dry soils, does not like waterlogging. Soil acidity is necessarily alkaline.

Euonymus flat-petiolate

It is a low tree (up to 3 m) or a very thinned shrub with olive-colored shoots. Very often the shoots or trunk of this variety are covered with a bluish-tinged coating. The plant is of Chinese origin.

The leaves are very long - up to 19 cm in length. Width up to 9 cm. Inflorescences have a record number of flowers - up to 30 pieces. The flower stalks themselves are also quite noticeable - their height reaches 15 cm. Ornamental trees and shrubs of Euonymus flat-petiolate are used as single plants or as the central plant in a group.

Euonymus creeping

Creeping euonymus or groundcover refers to the dwarf forms of this plant, the height of which in the vertical plane does not exceed 30-40 cm. However, its shoots can be up to several meters long, spreading over the soil surface and entwining small landscape elements in the form of stones or stumps .

The variety in question is mainly used to create continuous covers on alpine hills or lawns. The area covered by one plant is up to 12-15 square meters. m. The plant loves partial shade and moist soil.

The groundcover euonymus is shown in the photo below:

Euonymus cork

A plant originating from China. It is a winter-hardy shrub up to 2.5 m high with strong shoots that can branch very well. A feature of the plant is the appearance of a layer of cork bark on the shoots of adult plants. This layer is highly durable and beautiful in appearance.

It prefers soils of moderate moisture and, despite the fact that it does not like overly moist soil, it requires abundant watering. Grows on moderately alkaline soils.It is not critical to lighting - it can grow in both sun and shade.

Ornamental trees and shrubs of cork euonymus are used mainly as single plantings.

Euonymus Red cascade

It is considered one of the best plants for creating decorative hedges. The height of the bush reaches 4 m, and its diameter is up to 3 m. The leaves are dark green in summer, bright purple or bright yellow in autumn.

Prefers sunny areas. It has high frost resistance and drought resistance. Undemanding to soils.

Despite its drought resistance, it requires abundant watering and fertilizing. Does well in urban pollution.

Euonymus pink

A spherical shrub, up to 1.5 m high and up to 2 m in diameter. Leaves are up to 10 cm long, 2-3 cm wide.

The color change from light green to pink traditionally occurs with the onset of autumn. The fruits appear after the leaves begin to change color.

Grows in neutral soils with low humidity. Prefers partial shade, but will also thrive in the sun. It is an ornamental plant intended for growing as free-standing elements or central elements of a composition.

Euonymus Sunspot

An evergreen shrub with an oval shape. The height of the plant is small - up to 30 cm, and the diameter of the crown is about 60-70 cm. Its color is similar to that of the Harlequin variety, but is expressed exactly the opposite: the light areas of the leaves are not along the perimeter, but in the middle.

It belongs to indoor varieties because it has low frost resistance.Even with a minimal “minus”, the plant dies, so it is not intended for cultivation in open ground in the Russian climate.

Euonymus Sakhalinsky

Deciduous shrub of Far Eastern origin. The height of the plant is up to 2 m, the shoots are very dense, the foliage of an adult plant practically hides them. The leaves themselves are up to 11 cm long and up to 8 cm wide. They have a leathery structure and shine in the sun.

The plant blooms in July and bears fruit in September. Prefers sunny areas and loose dry soil. However, it can grow on rocky or sandy soils with sufficient fertilizing. Used as an ornamental plant to create borders and fences.

Sacred euonymus

A low plant with a crown up to 1.5 m in height and the same diameter. The crown has a high degree of branching. The leaves are brown all summer, turning bright red in the fall. In this case, the color change occurs almost simultaneously with the ripening of the fruit.

Grows on neutral dry soils. Loves sun, grows slowly in shade and partial shade. Ornamental trees and shrubs of the sacred euonymus have universal applications. In design, they can be used both as individual, single elements, and as hedges or flower bed fillers.

Euonymus creeping variegated

It is a variety of creeping euonymus with slightly different leaf colors. It is variegated, and the core of the leaves remains green, and at the edges they become white or yellow. The height of the cover can reach 30 cm, and the surface area covered by one bush reaches 13 square meters. m.

Planting and caring for variegated euonymus is quite simple and trivial.If you follow the basic rules of caring for the plant (maintaining neutral soil acidity, infrequent watering, fertilizing with complex fertilizer twice a season and regular pruning), the plant feels great and does not need any additional care.

Euonymus Fireball

In fact, it is a variety of red or winged euonymus with the only difference being that the crown has a more spherical shape and greater density. The remaining characteristics are identical to red euonymus.

The height of the plant is 3-4 m, the diameter of the crown is the same. It is undemanding to soil and prefers to grow in the sun. In shade or partial shade, the shape of the crown without pruning will be far from an ideal ball.

Euonymus Chicago Fire

Also a variety of red euonymus, but more “flattened”. The height of the crown rarely exceeds 2 m, but its diameter can reach up to 3.5 m. The color of the leaves changes at the end of August.

Grows in sunny areas. In the shade it almost never changes color, although it can reach the same size. Prefers neutral or slightly alkaline soils. Frost resistance down to – 25 °C.

Euonymus latifolia

It belongs to upright ornamental shrubs up to 5 m high. It has large leaves (12 cm long and 8-10 cm wide). The leaves have a bright green color. The color does not change during the season. Flowering begins in June and lasts approximately 1.5 months. The fruits ripen in September.

Prefers shade or partial shade with moist soil. Grows equally well in soils with any acidity. Frost resistance down to - 30 °C. In design it is used as a hedge, but it is difficult to call it frequent use.The plant has a very strong odor and can cause allergies.

Euonymus Emeraldgaeti

An evergreen creeping euonymus, reaching a height of no more than 25 cm. The leaf size is 4 by 3 cm. The edge of the leaf has a white or yellow border, about several mm thick. Flowering occurs in early summer and lasts about a month.

Grows in both sun and shade. It has no requirements for soil, either in terms of moisture or acidity. It is a plant that can tolerate almost any conditions. Withstands frosts down to - 30 °C. The only problems when growing are anthracnose and powdery mildew. To combat them, preventative spraying is recommended at the beginning of the season.

Euonymus Emeraldgold

Bushes of this variety grow up to 60 cm in height. The crown diameter can reach up to 1.5 m. The bush is quite dense, with medium or high growth rates. The leaves are leathery, oblong in shape, up to 4 cm long. The color of the leaves is yellowish-green.

The plant achieves normal development only in sunny areas. Prefers moist soils, which, however, must be well drained. However, it tolerates drought well. Frost resistance is moderate - the plant can tolerate frosts down to -25 °C. Used as borders, flowerbed fillers and standard plants.

Features of caring for euonymus

Depending on the variety of euonymus, caring for it can be quite varied. Therefore, before choosing a plant for a particular design solution, you should study the features of caring for a specific variety so that there are no unpleasant surprises.

The plant prefers partial shade.Although there are exceptions: for example, the Maak euonymus loves sunny areas. While warty and European varieties, which are widespread in Russia, have the highest growth rates in the shade.

The plant prefers fertile soil with good aeration. The soil should be quite soft and loose. The level of soil modes should be no less than 70 cm deep, since excessive moisture of the roots, although not detrimental to the plant, will significantly reduce its growth rate. The same applies to heavy clay soils and even loams.

The acidity of the soil should be slightly alkaline (pH from 7.5 to 8.5); in extreme cases, planting the plant on neutral soil is allowed. Too acidic soils need liming with lime or wood ash.

After planting, caring for the plant is quite simple and includes loosening the soil and infrequent watering. The plant tolerates drought much better than waterlogging, so it is not worth watering more than once every 3 weeks.

Plants should be fertilized twice a year: in early spring and mid-summer. In both cases, complex fertilizer for ornamental plants is used. It is best to apply it diluted in water, pouring the liquid 20-30 cm from the trunk.

The plant needs sanitary pruning every spring. Their procedure is standard: removing diseased, dried and broken branches.

For the winter, it is advisable to cover young plants with foliage or spruce branches. The thickness of the cover layer must be at least 30 cm.In early spring, in order to prevent young plants from becoming overbearing, the shelter should be removed after the first thaw. As soon as the euonymus reaches 3-4 years of age, it does not need shelter, since adult plants can tolerate frosts down to -35-40 °C.

If the plant is cared for correctly, it is practically not affected by diseases. The only problem for him will be spider mites. This is a fairly serious pest that requires the use of highly effective agents, for example, broad-spectrum acaricides, which can be Actellik. In some cases, even preventive treatment of euonymus with acaricides is recommended.

Conclusion

Considering the varieties, photos and descriptions of euonymus, we can conclude that the potential for using this plant in landscape design is very high. Various in size, color and growing habits, these plant relatives are an endless source of inspiration for any designer or gardener. Among the variety of varieties considered, it is difficult to find one that would not be suitable for the implementation of one or another design solution.

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