Euonymus fortunei Silver Queen (Wintercreeper)

Noted for its elegant foliage, Euonymus fortunei 'Silver Queen' (Wintercreeper) is a bushy evergreen shrub with glossy, elongated, dark green leaves adorned with contrasting white margins. In cold weather the leathery foliage often becomes tinged with purplish pink. Its variegated coloring do not fade in sunny conditions. A few tiny, inconspicuous, greenish flowers are produced in early summer, occasionally followed by pale pink fruits. Adding four season color in the landscape, this shrub is very versatile and may be used for massing, hedges or for a spot of color in the border. Initially, this bushy plant is very slow-growing, but once it gets going, it will lighten the darkest corner with its wonderful creamy variegated foliage.

• Grows up to 5-10 ft. tall and wide (150-300 cm). This shrub can be easily pruned to nearly any shape and size. Wintercreeper spreads both by creeping stems which root where they touch the ground, and by animal or water dispersed seeds. Euonymus fortunei has been reported to be invasive in natural areas in most of the states in the eastern half of the U.S.
• A full sun to part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Grow in full sun if your soil is moisture retentive. Tolerates a wide range of soils excluding boggy and wet soils.
• Watch for Euonymus scale, anthracnose, crown gall, leaf spot, mildew and aphids.
• Extremely versatile, Euonymus fortunei may be used as a trailing ground cover, a low hedge, as an edging plant along paths, massed on slopes to control erosion or as a foundation plant. With support, it will climb vigorously and is ideal trained against a shady wall.
• All parts may cause severe discomfort if ingested.
• Euonymus fortunei species is native to China, Japan, and Korea.
• Find where Euonymus fortunei species is invasive in the United States.
• Discover beautiful U.S. native plant alternatives.