Euonymus japonicus (Japanese spindle tree)

Slow growing with small, dark green leaves, this hardy Euonymus forms a dense little shrub. E. japonicus ‘Microphyllus Variegatus’ has green leaves with a white edge. Both are ideal for small gardens and rockeries. E. japonicus ‘Microphyllus Gold Dust’, which grows up to 600mm, has lime- yellow foliage that turns golden-yellow in full sun, but it is a slow and compact grower. E. japonicus ‘Albomarginatus’ is much larger, growing to 2 x 1.5m. It has green leaves with a thin white margin, is good for screening and is wind resistant. The more compact ‘Aureus’ has beautiful gold-yellow leaves with a thin green margin.

Family: Celastraceae

Synonym: Euonymus radicans

Botanical Pronunciation: ew-ON-ee-mus ja-PON-i-cus