Euonymus (Euonymus japonicus ‘Green Spire’)

Features and Characteristics

Euonymus japonicus, commonly called Japanese euonymus, is a dense oval evergreen shrub of the spindle tree family that typically grows to 10-15’ tall and to 5-8’ wide in cultivation, but may soar to as much as 25’ tall in the wild. It is native to Japan, Korea and China.

Opposite, tough, leathery, lustrous, ovate to obovate, dark green leaves (to 3” long) are blunt to rounded at the apex and tapered at the base. Leaf margins are serrated except near the base. Inconspicuous, four-petaled, greenish-white flowers in flattened cymes (5-12 flowers per cyme) bloom in late spring (June). Flowers are followed by showy pink fruits (capsules with red arils) which ripen in fall.

Genus name is an ancient Greek name referring to plants of this genus.

Specific epithet means of Japan, which is part of its native range.

‘Green Spire’ is a narrow, columnar selection of Japanese euonymus that will reach up to 8′ tall with a 2′ spread. The upright branches are densely covered in dark green, glossy leaves.