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EUONYMUS fortunei 'Golden Princess'

Image of Euonymus fortunei 'Golden Princess'

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

  • AHS Heat Zone

    9 - 2

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    5 - 9

  • Sunset Zone

    2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

  • Plant Type

    Shrub

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade, Full Shade

  • Height

    24"-36" / 61.0cm - 91.4cm (30)

  • Width

    36"-48" / 91.4cm - 121.9cm (42)

  • Bloom Time

    Late Spring, Early Summer

  • Native To

    China

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline

  • Soil Drainage

    Average

  • Soil type

    Clay, Loam, Sand

  • Tolerances

    Pollution, Drought, Soil Compaction

  • Growth Rate

    Medium

  • Water Requirements

    Average Water

  • Habit

    Cushion/Mound-forming

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Insignificant

  • Flower Color

    Light Green

  • Fruit Color

    Orange, Pink

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Dark Green, Gold

  • Foliage Color (Spring) Modifier

    Variegated

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Dark Green, Gold

  • Foliage Color (Summer) Modifier

    Variegated

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Dark Green, Gold

  • Foliage Color (Fall) Modifier

    Variegated

  • Foliage Color (Winter)

    Dark Green, Gold

  • Foliage Color (Winter) Modifier

    Variegated

  • Bark Color

    Green, Brown

  • Fragrant Flowers

    No

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    No

  • Showy Fruit

    No

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    Yes

  • Foliage Texture

    Medium

  • Foliage Sheen

    Glossy

  • Evergreen

    Yes

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Bark Texture

    Corky

  • Usage

    Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Vine

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    Sometimes

  • Attracts

    Birds

  • Self-Sowing

    Yes