Euonymus fortunei 'Vegetus' (Vegetus Wintercreeper)


Michael's Opinion

A Euonymus that is suited to mass planting in partial shade in large landscapes. A slight spring trimming ensures it behaves.

Botanical Information

FamilyCelastraceae
GenusEuonymus
Speciesfortunei
Cultivar'Vegetus'
CategoryWoody
TypeShrub (evergreen)
OriginHorticultural origin.
Pronunciation

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone5–9
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone5a–8a
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-26
Temperature (°F)-15
Height1.2 m
Spread1.2 m
GrowthFast
Flowering PeriodJune, July

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionEasy to maintain but quite poisonous. Widely used in the landscape and one of the most cold hardy cultivars. It is fast growing and adaptable to a number of environments and fruits freely.
ID CharacteristicThis cultivar is known for its mass of brilliant orange fall berries and deep green, dense form. It is also one of the easier cultivars to produce and maintain.
ShapeFully upright or horizontal form, growing to about 1.5 m in height and is usually broad as it is tall. Dense, bushy and is quite compact when maintained.
LandscapeThis cultivar can be used as a shrub or small tree; a groundcover or hedging, even trained as a climbing vine for screening. It can also thrive in inner city locations.
CultivationFairly low maintenance. Responds well to pruning to maintain form as it fills out right to the ground. Prefers partial to full sun and adaptable to dry and moist soils. It is also hardy to harsh hot and cold temperatures.
PestsThis cultivar is extremely susceptible to scale.
Notable SpecimensFanshawe College Gardens, London, Ontario, Canada.
HabitatHorticultural origin.
Bark/Stem Description Light greenish-brown with few lenticels. Branches have uniform pith.
Flower/Leaf Bud DescriptionNarrowly conical buds usually in clusters of three around 1.25 cm long.
Leaf DescriptionLeaves are a medium to dull green, glossy with no venation. Broad-elliptic, serrate, about 2.5–5 cm in length and more rounded.
Flower DescriptionFlowers are hardly noticeable, blending in with the leaves and are cream in colour.
Fruit DescriptionOvoid seed with a fleshy aril, 1 cm diameter. Hulls are orange in the autumn but can also be red, pink and yellow.
Colour DescriptionGlossy, deep green with lighter green undersides and produces orange fruit in the fall.
Texture DescriptionSmooth, fine texture.

Photographs