Family
Celastraceae
Botanical Name
EUONYMUS fortunei 'Golden Princess'
Plant Common Name
Golden Princess Wintercreeper, Wintercreeper
General Description
One of the best known and most durable broadleaf evergreens, wintercreeper is a hardy groundcover or shrub from China. The cultivar 'Golden Princess' forms a small mounded shrub whose oval glossy-green leaves are tipped gold in spring. Its stems will climb by rootlike holdfasts if a suitable surface is available. In late spring and early summer it sometimes bears insignificant greenish flowers, followed by a sparse crop of pinkish fruits that open to reveal fleshy orange seeds. Birds eat and disseminate the seeds.
This shade-loving ornamental does well in most conditions except for damp soils. In colder climates it may suffer winter burn if exposed to bright sun and wind. Use it in foundation plantings, mixed borders, or containers.
Wintercreeper is listed as an invasive exotic throughout much of the eastern United States and Canada. It is susceptible to euonymus scale.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
9 - 2
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USDA Hardiness Zone
5 - 9
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Sunset Zone
2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
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Plant Type
Shrub
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade, Full Shade
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Height
24"-36" / 61.0cm - 91.4cm (30)
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Width
36"-48" / 91.4cm - 121.9cm (42)
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Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
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Native To
China
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Average
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Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Pollution, Drought, Soil Compaction
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Insignificant
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Flower Color
Light Green
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Fruit Color
Orange, Pink
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Dark Green, Gold
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Foliage Color (Spring) Modifier
Variegated
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Dark Green, Gold
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Foliage Color (Summer) Modifier
Variegated
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Dark Green, Gold
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Foliage Color (Fall) Modifier
Variegated
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Dark Green, Gold
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Foliage Color (Winter) Modifier
Variegated
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Bark Color
Green, Brown
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Glossy
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Bark Texture
Corky
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Usage
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Vine
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
Sometimes
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Attracts
Birds
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Self-Sowing
Yes