Euonymus japonicus Ovatus Aureus - Japanese Spindle

Euonymus japonicus 'Ovatus Aureus', also known as Euonymus japonicus 'Marieke', is a variety of Japanese Spindle with beautiful variegated foliage of dark green and bright yellow, and a rather upright and pleasant silhouette. This elegant and colourful bush is perfect for low and bright hedges, beautiful combinations in flowering or foliage shrub beds, and elegant pots on a terrace or balcony. It is preferably cultivated in regions where winter is not too harsh and summer is neither too dry nor too hot. 

Japanese Spindle belongs to the Celastraceae family. It is native, as its name suggests, to Japan, but it 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 sea where it can reach a height of 8 m (26.2 ft). Its hardiness is around -12° C (10.4° F), and its growth is rather slow. The cultivar 'Ovatus Aureus', with a much more compact growth, is also distinguished by its more rounded foliage, beautifully variegated with bright yellow and dark green. In our gardens, it will reach an average height of 2 m (6.6 ft) and a spread of 1.6 m (5.2 ft), more if not regularly pruned. Its habit is naturally bushy and rather upright. Well-branched from the base, its upright branches bear dense foliage, composed of glossy, rigid, dark green leaves with irregular yellow edges. They are ovate-rounded in shape, 3 cm to 5 cm (1.2 in to 2 in) long, and finely toothed along the edges. The discreet flowering takes place in May-June, at the tips of the young shoots. Tiny white-greenish flowers with 4 petals are grouped in clusters. They are pollinated by insects and are followed by the formation of small green fruits that turn pink and orange in autumn, hanging under the branches. 

Euonymus japonicus 'Ovatus Aureus', traditionally used for creating low evergreen hedges, can also be used in shrub beds by playing with contrasts with bronze fennels, barberries, or even bush or groundcover roses. Its variegated foliage enhances all flowerings and works wonders in partially shaded areas of the garden. Well adapted to coastal areas and urban gardens, it is often used to create hedges along pathways or property boundaries to protect them from wind and prying eyes. It adapts perfectly to container gardening, which can be placed on a terrace or balcony, and is also suitable for pruning. Its height will be somewhat reduced in pots, allowing the gardener to experiment with various artistic shapes.

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