Euonymus fortunei Radicans - Spindle

The Euonymus fortunei Radicans is a creeping spindle tree, with a compact and very dense vegetation, adorned with evergreen foliage of a beautiful dark green color that takes on beautiful autumnal shades. This small, always well-groomed shrub is ideal for effectively and elegantly covering the ground. Its branches, equipped with climbing roots, easily cling to walls, like ivy, but without becoming invasive. Suitable for multiple uses, it finds its place under shrubs, on the edge of woodlands, along paths, or even in planters on the terrace. Very tolerant in terms of soil and exposure, it does, however, fear arid conditions.

Native to Asia and northern China, Euonymus fortunei is a slow-growing ground cover shrub of the Celastraceae family, perfectly hardy and tolerant of limestone in the soil. The Radicans variety is appreciated for its particularly compact, dense, and creeping or even climbing habit. At maturity, this slow-growing cultivar will reach a height of about 35 cm (13.8 in) with a spread of at least 60 cm (23.6 in). It develops flexible branches that can be easily trained and have the ability to cling to their support thanks to climbing roots. The evergreen, elliptical leaves, 3 to 4 cm (1.2 to 1.6 in) long, serrated, are a fairly dark and shiny green. Depending on the sunlight, they take on beautiful red to reddish-brown hues. In spring, on the current year's growth, insignificant clusters of white-greenish flowers appear. They give way to red, decorative but non-edible berries, appreciated by birds.

Euonymus fortunei Radicans grows in any well-drained soil, in a non-arid position, preferably semi-shaded. Pruning is unnecessary, it is better to pinch the young plants to encourage branching and only remove dead or diseased wood. It can be used in pots or planters on a terrace, in rockeries or as a border plant, and even to highlight the curve of a pathway or the steps of a staircase, or to cover the slope of a retaining wall. It is useful for greening a low wall, without becoming uncontrollable. Pair it with other robust ground cover plants such as Waldsteinia ternata, Bergenia, creeping cotoneaster, or other varieties of variegated creeping spindle tree.

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