Last updated on June 4th, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Euonymus Plants are great fast-growing evergreen shrubs that do well almost anywhere. In the Southwest, they will thrive providing you give them nourishment and water often the first 2-3 years after initial planting. They are drought-tolerant plants and can withstand the harsh mid-summer heat.
These plants are easy to trim and prune. They will grow tall if not trimmed back most landscapers and homeowners trim them to use as a hedge short or tall it is up to you.
Where to place them
You can use them as stand-alone plants or in a container as shown below. They are great plants to trim and prune to the size of your liking. Shape them into squares, 2 or 3-tier topiary, Christmas tree shape or just let them grow to their natural size. It’s ok to place them in partial shade or full sun.
Euonymus Fortunei Emerald n Gold
There are many varieties and we will give you tips and suggestions on how to keep looking their best throughout the growing seasons. In the Southwest, they like well-composted soil and regular watering.
Use them as a hedge for that formal look. They are easy to shape and form into almost any size. I have seen some species up to 12 ft. tall and 5 ft. wide.
Types of Euonymus
The Silver King Euonymus (Euonymus japonicus ‘Silver King’)
Thick shiny leaves with a silver-colored edge. If left alone without pruning they will grow about 6ft. tall and 3-4 ft. wide. Use it as a good border or hedge plant for your landscaping needs. Euonymus will do great in a large container and placed in front of your home entrance…place two of them on each side. It does have a small not showy white flower during the mid-spring season. It can take full sun or partial shade.
Chollipo Euonymus
This euonymus will get taller and wider than the Silver King. It will grow about 12 ft. tall and 6 ft. wide. Small not showy white flower during spring. They get full thick and grow quickly. A really good plant for border privacy. Learn about “How to block neighbors’ view of my yard”.
View more pictures of this plant in a container over at Monrovia.com
The Golden Euonymus
An excellent choice for a colorful hedge is an evergreen shrub that displays dense, bold green color, and variegated foliage. A hardy shrub that can withstand hot and freezing temperatures and conditions. It tolerates poor and is medium watering once it becomes well established.
Variegated Boxleaf Euonymus
Euonymus japonicus ‘Microphyllus Variegatus’. If you are looking for a short evergreen hedge plant this is the one. It grows about 2-3 ft. tall and 1 ft. wide. The leaves are glossy green with white color on the outer edges. It does not mind the full sun and can be planted in partial shade. It is a somewhat slower-growing euonymus than the Chollipo and Silver King. Water and fertilize regularly for best results.
Emerald Gaiety Euonymus
This one is a cool plant the tips on this foliage will turn a light pink color in winter. You can use it as a small hedge or climb a fence or trellis. A deep emerald, green color from spring until mid-fall. It is an evergreen in warmer type climates. Not a drought-tolerant plant but will do well provided you plug it into a drip system. About 15 minutes every other day during the mid-summer heat.
USDA growing zone 5-9.
Are they susceptible to diseases and or pests?
Like all plants, they do develop problems. One of the most common is Euonymus Scale. Scale are small insects that basically attack the limbs and suck the juice of these plants. Mites and mealybugs will attack all varieties of Euonymus plants. Fertilizing and observing your plants often is the best deterrent to pests and diseases. Use a good system insecticide at the first sight of insects. Scale and Mealybugs on a rose leaf see photo below.
Powdery Mildew can also become a problem. See the image below. A good spraying with fungus control or neem oil should remedy the problem. It may take several applications before you see results.
Other Evergreen Shrubs for the Southwest.
Euonymus Plants
