Euonymus japonicus Silver King - Japanese Spindle

Euonymus japonicus Silver King is a variety of Japanese Spindle Tree with particularly refined variegated foliage: its glossy leaves are subtly maculated with grey-green on an emerald green background, and highlighted by a beautiful cream to silver-white margin. Attractive throughout the year, easy to grow in ordinary soil, this moderately-sized shrub can be used to create lovely evergreen hedges or provide elegant structuring in large shrub beds. Planted in a large container and shaped into a topiary, it will also make a stylish addition to a terrace or balcony.  

The Japanese Spindle Tree belongs to the Celastraceae family. As its name suggests, it is native to Japan. However, it can also be found in China and Korea. In its natural habitat, this large shrub grows in sloped, open areas on the edge of forests, and can even become a tree up to 8 meters (26 feet 2 inches) tall in coastal areas. It is hardy to around -12 °C (10.4 °F), and its growth is rather slow.

The 'Silver King' cultivar, with a slower and more compact growth, is also distinguished by its variegated white and green foliage. In gardens, it reaches approximately 1.90 m (6 feet 2 inches) in height and 1.50 m (4 feet 11 inches) in width, possibly more if not regularly pruned. Its habit is naturally bushy, rather spreading and dense. Well-branched from the base, its branches bear abundant foliage, with glossy leaves in two shades of green and irregular, yellow cream to almost white margins. They are oval-shaped, 3 to 5 cm (1.2 to 2 in) long, finely toothed along the edges. The discreet flowering takes place in May-June, at the tips of young shoots. The tiny, pale greenish-white flowers with four petals are grouped in clusters. They are pollinated by insects and are followed by small green fruits that turn pink and orange in autumn, hanging from the branches.

Euonymus japonicus Silver King, traditionally grown as a medium-sized evergreen hedging plant, can also be included in shrub beds, creating interesting contrasts with barberries, compact photinias, or even Tarentum myrtles. Its variegated foliage enhances all types of flowering and works wonders in partially shaded areas of the garden. Well-suited for coastal areas and urban gardens, the Japanese Spindle Tree is often used to create hedges along pathways or as property boundaries to protect against wind and prying eyes. It is suitable for container cultivation, on a terrace or a balcony, and responds well to pruning. Its height, however, will be reduced in pots, and the plant can be shaped to the gardener's desires, even allowing for topiary art experiments.