This is one of the smaller broad leaf evergreen shrubs in the Euonymus genus (a group of plants with similar characteristics). It is bushy and slowly grows to about 5 feet tall with a 6 foot spread at maturity. However, if it is supported by a wall or trellis, it will climb. It has small leaves and Inconspicuous, greenish-white flowers that appear in early summer. It has red colored berries and good fall color. If grown in partial shade, it will encourage variegated leaves. The shrub grows easily with average, medium moisture in well-drained soils with full sun to part shade. It will tolerate significant amounts of shade and a wide range of soils and soil conditions, except for wet ones. Once established, these plants tolerate some drought and urban conditions. The plant can spread aggressively with stems that root where they touch the ground. The 'Emerald Gaiety', like other shrubs in this genus, requires attention to prevent spreading. Even with removal of stems, birds spread the seeds widely into the woodlands where the shrub can overgrow native plants. Spread can be reduced by planting it in shadier areas which slows or reduces the number of flowers and resulting seeds. The plant can be trimmed annually after flowering to maintain an attractive shape. Like other species of Euonymus, this shrub can be toxic if large amounts of any part of it are eaten. Diseases, Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Euonymus scale can be a significant problem and should be treated if it appears. Anthracnose, crown gall, leaf spot, mildew and aphids can also be problems. Birds like the seeds and deer like the plant. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases. More information on Euonymus fortunei .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Green; Pink; White
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate; Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Smooth
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Colorful 1 3/4 inch diameter evergreen leaves are ovate (longish oval) with serrated, tooth-like margins; blue-green leaves with white margins and a pink tinge in fall and winter. The leaf is called variegated due to its coloring variations.
Fall color
Pink
Flower color
Green; White
Flower form
Cyme; Insignificant
Flower shape
Dome; Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small, greenish white flowers will bloom in early summer. The flower is about 1/4 inch with four petals which may be dome shaped or flat.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Orange; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Mature seed capsules are white, globoid, and about ¼ inch across. Eventually, they split open to reveal fleshy arils that are orange to red; solitary seeds occurs within these arils.