Euonymus alatus Ciliatodentatus - Winged Spindle

The Euonymus alatus var. ciliatodentatus resembles the compact winged spindle 'Compactus', but this pretty form is perhaps even more compact and beautifully coloured at the end of the season.  It is a small and nicely rounded bush with deciduous foliage, initially a fairly ordinary green, but turning to a brighter and more vivid pink and then to deep purple-red by the end of summer before falling off. Its bicoloured orange and deep purple-red fruiting is particularly abundant and decorative against the backdrop of its autumn foliage. It gets its name "winged spindle" from the corky wings that run along its branches. This spindle will adapt to any sufficiently deep and well-drained soil, even limestone and fairly dry in summer.                                 

Originally from Asia, perfectly hardy, the Euonymus alatus var. ciliatodentatus is a dwarf shrub, slow-growing, that does not exceed 1 m (3 ft 4 in) in all directions. Its spherical habit is compact and bushy, supported by branches with 4 prominent and slender corky ridges. The leaves are opposite on the stems, slender, ovate, simple, not exceeding 2 cm (0.8 in) wide by 5 to 6 cm (2 to 2.4 in) long. Their edges are serrated, finely toothed, with fine cilia. They are initially a medium green in spring and summer, then gradually change colour from September onwards, turning pink to dark red. These colours will be more pronounced if the bush is exposed to the sun. The insignificant flowering occurs in May, with very small greenish flowers. In October, it is replaced by very decorative berries, deep purple-red, with a diameter of 1 cm (0.4 in) enclosing a toxic orange seed.

The Euonymus alatus ciliatodentatus is perfect in the foreground of shrub borders, playing with colour and texture contrasts. It will blend well with bronze fennels, dwarf barberries, small conifers, winter heathers or colourful perennials in autumn (asters, yarrows, Japanese anemones...). In small groups, it catches the eye and adds depth to the garden.

Tips: In case of intense drought, water to maintain beautiful foliage.