Euonymus japonicus Aureomarginatus - Japanese Spindle

The Euonymus japonicus Aureomarginatus is a particularly bright and colourful variety of Japanese Spindle, with beautiful dark green evergreen foliage strongly margined with golden yellow throughout the year, even in winter. It allows for the creation of dense and bright evergreen hedges and elegant topiaries for the terrace! This bush can be grown in full sun or partial shade, in any ordinary soil, even limestone, as long as it remains moist.

The Japanese Spindle belongs to the Celastraceae family. As its name suggests, it is native to Japan, but can also be found in China and Korea. In nature, this large bush grows on slopes, in open areas on the edge of forests, and even by the seaside where it can reach a height of 8m (26 ft 2 in) and become a tree. It has a hardiness of around -12°C (10.4 °F) and its growth is relatively slow.

The 'Aureomarginata' cultivar, with a more compact growth, is also distinguished by its variegated yellow and green foliage. In our gardens, it will reach an average height of 2m (6 ft 7 in) with a spread of 1.50m, even more if not regularly pruned. Its natural habit is bushy and rather upright. Well-branched from the base, its upright branches bear dense foliage, composed of glossy dark green leaves with irregular yellow margins. They are oval in shape, 3 to 5cm (1.2 to 2 in) long, with finely serrated edges. Inconspicuous flowering occurs in May-June at the tips of the young shoots. Tiny white-greenish flowers with 4 petals are clustered together. They are pollinated by insects and followed by the formation of small green fruits that turn pink and orange in autumn, hanging from the branches.

Euonymus japonicus Aureomarginatus, traditionally used to create medium-sized evergreen hedges, can also be used in shrub beds to create contrasting effects with bronze fennel, barberry, or even bush or ground cover roses. Its variegated foliage enhances all types of flowering and works wonders in partially shaded areas of the garden. Well-suited to coastal areas and urban gardens, the Japanese Spindle is often used to create hedges along pathways or property boundaries to protect from wind and prying eyes. It adapts well to container cultivation, which can be placed on the terrace or balcony, and is also suitable for pruning. Its height will be less significant in pots, allowing the gardener to experiment with topiary art.