Euonymus japonicus Microphyllus Aureovariegatus - Japanese Spindle

The Euonymus japonicus microphyllus Aureovariegatus is a variety of Japanese Spindle with small leaves variegated with dark green and bright yellow, particularly bright and colourful. With a nice rounded and regular habit, this evergreen bush allows for attractive small hedges all year round, but also for beautiful variegated 'balls' that can be placed in strategic spots in the garden, on the terrace, or at the corner of a porch.

The Japanese Spindle belongs to the family of Celastraceae. It originates, as its name suggests, from Japan. But it can also be found in China and Korea. In nature, this large bush grows on slopes, in open areas at the edge of forests, and even by the seaside where it can become a tree up to 8m (26 ft 2 in) tall. Its hardiness is around -12°C (10.4 °F), and its growth is quite slow.

The cultivar 'Microphyllus Aureovariegatus', with a more compact development, is also distinguished by its small leaves, elegantly variegated with yellow and green. In our gardens, it will reach an average height of 1.20m (3 ft 11 in) with a 1m (3 ft 4 in) spread, more if not regularly pruned. Its habit is naturally bushy, rounded, and dense. Well-branched from the base, its upright branches bear dense foliage, composed of small glossy leaves, leathery, dark green at the centre of the lamina irregularly edged with bright yellow, sometimes entirely yellow on young shoots. They are oval-shaped, pointed at their tips, not exceeding 2cm (0.8 in), finely toothed along the edges. The discreet flowering occurs in May-June, at the end of the young shoots. Tiny white-greenish flowers with 4 petals are grouped in clusters. 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.

The 'Microphyllus Aureovariegatus' spindle is a plant suited for a rather mild and humid climate, moderately hardy especially during its young years, but tolerant to sea spray. It can be used to create low evergreen hedges or large borders. In flower beds, its variegated foliage enhances all kinds of blooms as well as the purple foliage of Physocarpus or Berberis, for example. Elegant in urban gardens, the Japanese Spindle microphyllus Aureovariegatus naturally has a neat appearance that can be accentuated by pruning to create beautiful plant spheres to scatter here and there to mark strategic spots in the garden. It adapts perfectly to container gardening, which can be placed on the terrace or balcony, and is well-suited for pruning, allowing the gardener to try their hand at topiary art.