'Moonshadow' Wintercreeper

(Euonymus fortunei 'Moonshadow')

Celastraceae (Spindletree Family)

▲▼ close-up with foliage

▲▼ close-up with foliage

▲ whole plant, with more spreading shrub growth habit than purpleleaf wintercreeper

Euonymus fortunei:  Wintercreeper Euonymus

Location near campus:  in northeast corner of Xeriscape Garden (corner of National & Linwood) near National.

·         evergreen, opposite, ovate leaves with slightly serrate to crenate margins; leaves 2” long and ½ as wide

·         can spread along the ground (6-18” as groundcover), or climb walls/trees by aerial roots (going 40’ or more up walls/trees/poles); fast growing

·         prefers full sun to fairly deep shade, tolerates most soils except very wet soils

·         all cultivars/varieties subject to euonymus scale, a tiny white insect which can eventually kill out stems

·         cultivars/varieties:

o   ‘Moonshadow’ (‘Moonshadow’ Wintercreeper)

·         foliage has fairly broad green margin, with yellow leaf centers; leaves often smaller than typical species

·         lower growing and spreading, but slower growing than species