European Euonymus seeds

Habitat

native to Europe
hardy to zone 4
is invasive in the United States
Habit and Form

a deciduous upright shrub
rounded form
12′ to 30′ tall and nearly as wide
fast growth rate
medium texture

Summer Foliage

opposite leaf arrangement
simple, deciduous leaves
ovate to obovate leaf shape
1″ to 3.5″ long
serrate leaf margins
dull green leaf color
glabrous

Autumn Foliage

yellow to yellow-green to a reddish-purple fall color
leafs out early
Flowers

yellow-green flower color
0.5″ across
flowers borne in long cymes
blooms in May
not ornamentally significant

Fruit

dry capsule fruit
lobed
0.5″ to 0.75″ across
pinkish red color
orange seeds
matures in September
persists through the fall
showy

Bark

greenish-red stems
gray-brown older bark
thin
Culture

transplant from container of B&B
soil tolerant, but needs well-drained conditions
pH adaptable
full sun to partial shade
very durable
Landscape Use

group or mass planting
screen
border
Liabilities

euonymus scale
invasive and weedy
ID Features

imbricate, fleshy, greenish buds
dry capsule fruit that persists
rounded branching habit
yellow fall color
Propagation

by cuttings
by seed
Cultivars/Varieties

‘Albus’ (also listed as var. albus) – This form features white fruit.

‘Nana’ – This is a dwarf form only growing to 3′ tall and wide. It apparently does not flower or fruit and it may not be as hardy as the species.

‘Red Ace’, ‘Red Cascade’ and ‘Red Caps’ – These three selections feature fruit that is abundant, long-lasting and red in color. Other traits are similar to the species.