Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety' (v)

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Common name: Emerald Gaiety Spindle

Description: This versatile evergreen shrub is prized for its attractive variegated foliage that provides year-round interest. The small, oval leaves emerge bright green with crisp white margins, creating a fresh, luminous effect in the garden. As temperatures drop in autumn and winter, the foliage takes on beautiful pink and red tints, adding an unexpected splash of colour to the winter garden. 'Emerald Gaiety' has a naturally compact, bushy habit and can be grown as a low mounding shrub, trained as a climber against walls or fences, or used as ground cover. It occasionally produces small, inconspicuous greenish-white flowers in summer, followed by pink-tinged fruits, though these are not the main ornamental feature. This hardy plant is excellent for brightening shady corners and works beautifully in containers or formal planting schemes.

Other benefits: year-round foliage colour, winter interest with pink-tinged leaves, versatile growth habit, excellent for containers, low maintenance

Wildlife attraction: bees, pollinators (flowers attract insects when present)

Height & spread (approx.) at 10 years: 0.6m x 1m (larger if grown as a climber)

Position: adaptable to full sun to full shade; variegation is best in good light but tolerates shade well

Soil pH: very adaptable; thrives in neutral to slightly alkaline conditions

Moisture: moderate watering required; tolerates a range of moisture levels once established; prefers well-drained soil

Winter hardiness: fully hardy to -20°C