Winter Creeper

(Euonymus fortunei)

Winter Creeper (Euonymus fortunei)

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Estimated Native Range
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Summary

Euonymus fortunei, commonly known as Winter Creeper, is an evergreen shrub native to forest margins, woodland areas, and scrublands of East Asia. It exhibits a dual growth habit, functioning as a ground cover or, with support, climbing up to 20 meters (66 feet) using small rootlets on the stems, similar to ivy. In its juvenile phase, it creeps or climbs without flowering; upon reaching sufficient light at the tops of trees, it transitions to an adult, flowering phase. The flowers are inconspicuous, about 5 mm across, with four greenish-yellow petals, while the fruit is a smooth, dehiscent capsule with attractive reddish arils.

Winter Creeper is valued for its versatility as an ornamental plant, with cultivars offering yellow, variegated, and dwarfed growth forms. It is commonly used for ground cover, or as a climbing vine on walls and trees, adding year-round greenery to the landscape. This plant adapts to a range of light conditions, from full sun to part shade, and is not particular about soil drainage, tolerating fast, medium, or slow-draining soils. However, it can be potentially invasive outside its native range, notably in parts of the Eastern United States, and should be planted with caution.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Shrub
  • Height: 2-5 feet
  • Width: 2-5 feet
  • Growth Rate: Rapid
  • Flower Color: N/A
  • Flowering Season: Spring
  • Leaf Retention: Evergreen

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: Medium
  • Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Erosion Control, Groundcover, Hedges, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Rabbit Resistant, Rock Garden, Salt Tolerant, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

Forest margins, woodland areas, and scrublands of East Asia

Other Names

Common Names: Fortune’s Spindle , Climbing Euonymus , Spreading Euonymus , Winter-Creeper , Dwarf Euonymus , Kletternder Spindelstrauch , Fusain Du Japon , Kruipkardinaalsmuts , Vinterbenved , Klätterbenved

Scientific Names: Euonymus fortunei , Euonymus patens , Euonymus fortunei f. radicans , Euonymus kewensis , Euonymus kiautschovicus , Euonymus hederaceus , Evonymus japonicus , Elaeodendron fortunei , Euonymus japonicus var. radicans , Euonymus japonicus var. microphyllus

GBIF Accepted Name: Euonymus fortunei (Turcz.) Hand.-Mazz.