Euonymus japonicus Jean Hugues - Japanese Spindle

The Euonymus japonicus 'Jean Hugues' is a variety of Japanese spindle that is revered for its resemblance to boxwood borders. It is a small, upright and dense bush, adorned with small dark green leaves throughout the year, decorated with young tender green shoots in spring. It is perfect for creating borders, mazes, or low hedges with a neat appearance. It will also look great in a nice pot on the terrace or balcony, trimmed as a topiary.

The Japanese spindle Jean Hugues belongs to the family of Celastraceae. Its ancestor, named Euonymus japonicus in Latin, is native, as its name suggests, to Japan. But it is also found in China and Korea. In nature, this large shrub grows on slopes, in open areas at the edge of forests, and even by the seaside where it can become a tree reaching 8 metres (26 feet 2 inches) in height. Its hardiness is around -7 to -10°C, and its growth is quite slow.

The 'Jean Hugues' cultivar is a dwarf form. It grows very slowly, has a dense, narrow and very low habit, and will not exceed 90 cm (35.4 in) in height (on average 75 cm (29.5 in)) and 30-40 cm (11.8-15.7 in) in width. Its habit is naturally upright, supported by vertical branches. Its branches bear a very dense foliage, composed of small glossy leaves, 2 to 4 cm (0.8 to 1.6 in) long, changing from light green-yellow when young to forest green when mature. The discreet flowering takes place in May-June, at the tip of the young shoots. Tiny white-greenish flowers with 4 petals are clustered together. They are pollinated by insects and are followed by small green fruits that turn pink and orange in autumn, hanging under the branches. The evergreen foliage can be burned by severe frosts.

Euonymus japonicus Jean Hugues is a good alternative to boxwood in a formal garden. It can also be planted in a rock garden, to highlight ground cover plants (such as aubrietas, silver or gold baskets) and spreading plants (Armeria, saxifrages, carnations, etc.). The Japanese spindle is a great addition to any garden. Its dark leaves and simple appearance complement all flowers and colourful foliage. It is perfect for use in coastal areas and urban gardens and is often planted as a hedge along pathways or property boundaries to offer protection from wind and prying eyes. It can also be grown in containers on terraces or balconies and responds well to pruning.