Euonymus japonicus

Euonymus japonicus
Foliage of the Japanese spindle (Euonymus japonicus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Celastrales
Family:	Celastraceae
Genus:	Euonymus
Species:	E. japonicus
Binomial name
Euonymus japonicus Thunb.

Euonymus japonicus, commonly known as the Japanese Spindle, is a species of spindle, native to Japan, Korea and China. It is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing to 2–8 m tall, with opposite, oval leaves 3–7 cm long with a finely serrated margin. The flowers are inconspicuous, greenish-white, 5 mm diameter. In the fall, orange fruit hangs below the flaring pink seed coverings.

Horticultural cultivars

Euonymus japonicus is a popular ornamental plant, both in its native area and also in Europe and North America. In particular the numerous cultivars which have been selected (often with variegated or yellow leaves) are widely grown in all soil types in sun or shade. Some of the more distinctive cultivars are:

• ' Albomarginatus ' - leaves green, narrowly margined white
• ' Bravo ' - green and creamy-yellow variegated leaves, upright habit
• ' Green Spire ' - evergreen columnar narrow shrub
• ' Kathy ' - green and white variegated, broad leaves, shorter growing than most
• ' Latifolius Albomarginatus ' - green leaves with broad white margin
• ' President Gauthier ' - dark green and creamy-white variegated leaves, slightly more lax habit than others