Euonymus
Also known as: Spindle · Burningbush · Wintercreeper
11 types of euonymus
Broadleaf Euonymus (E. latifolius)
Year 2+also: Large-leaved Spindle
Himalayan species with broad leaves and coral-pink capsules.
Burningbush (E. alatus)
Year 2+also: Winged Euonymus, Winged Spindle
Fiery scarlet fall color; distinctive corky winged stems.
Cork Spindle Tree (E. phellomanus)
Year 2+Striking corky bark ridges; orange-pink capsules in fall.
European Euonymus (E. europaea)
Year 2+also: Spindle
Classic hedgerow shrub with pink-and-orange capsules.
Flat-stalked Spindle (E. sachalinensis)
Year 2+also: Sakhalin Euonymus
Cold-hardy species with pink capsules and red fall leaves.
Hamilton's Spindletree (E. hamiltonianus)
Year 2+Large shrub with pink capsules and good fall color.
Japanese Spindle Tree (E. hamiltonianus var. sieboldianus)
Year 2+also: Siebold's Spindle, Yeddo Euonymus
Asian variety with showy fruit and reliable autumn reds.
Korean Spindle (E. oxyphyllus)
Year 2+Korean native with excellent red-purple fall foliage.
Maack's Spindletree (E. maackii)
Year 2+also: Winterberry Spindletree
Cold-hardy shrub with red capsules that split to show orange seeds.
Many-flowered Spindle (E. myrianthus)
Year 2+also: Evergreen Spindle Bush
Evergreen species with abundant yellow flowers and large fruit.
Winter Creeper (E. fortunei)
Year 2+also: Wintercreeper
Evergreen groundcover or climbing vine; many variegated cultivars.
When & where
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Remove fleshy aril, then cold-moist stratify 2–4 months. Sow in deep pots in well-drained mix. Protect from rodents; seeds are attractive to wildlife.
Pre-sow treatment
60–120 days cold-moist stratification after removing the aril.
Grower's tip
Many species have brilliant fall color or variegated evergreen foliage. Some species are invasive in certain regions — check local guidelines before planting.
Woody plant facts
Good to know before you grow this
Can spread aggressively and is invasive in some regions — check your local invasive-species list before planting.
Soil preferences
Free-draining garden soil. Most shrubs fail from wet feet, not poor fertility.
5.5–7.0 for most; acid-lovers (rhododendron, blueberry) want 4.5–5.5.
Mulch a wide ring with compost or bark each spring; keep mulch off the stems.
Watering
Deep soak weekly for the first two seasons, then only in drought.
Slow soak over the root zone, not the crown.
Overwatered: yellowing leaves, dieback, sour soil. Underwatered: leaf scorch, early leaf drop, sparse bloom.
Prefers top-watering — Top-water only — deep slow soak at the drip line, never at the trunk. Bottom-watering is only for tree seedlings in nursery pots (shallow tray 15 min). Established trees always get watered from above onto the soil.
Temperature tolerance
Broad — hardy shrubs handle 35–90°F once established
Down to the species' rated zone minimum
Hardy once established; first-winter seedlings need a mulch collar or cold frame.
Special germination requirements
Most temperate tree seed needs cold stratification (30–120+ days at 34–41°F) — see each species entry for the exact time.
Container growing
Possible with the right cultivar
10–20 gal (38–76 L) for a long-term potted shrub
Dwarf and compact forms do fine in large pots; full-size shrubs eventually need the ground.
Detailed harvesting
Prune rather than harvest — take out dead, damaged and crossing stems, and cut spring bloomers right after flowering so you don't remove next year's buds.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Not applicable — this is a permanent planting.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Structure, hedging, screening, wildlife cover and season-long flower or berry interest.
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Mostly insect-pollinated; seedlings vary from the parent.
Not practical. Named cultivars must be grown from cuttings, not seed.
Collect ripe seed or clean berries in fall, then cold-stratify before spring sowing.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for euonymus in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
My Euonymus notes
Euonymus seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
Order more seeds
Running low? Reorder from one of these seed stores.
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