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Euonymus fortunei - (Turcz.)Hand-Mazz.

Common Name Winter Creeper, Wintercreeper Euonymus
Family Celastraceae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards Although no records of toxicity have been seen for this species, a number of plants in this genus are suspected of being poisonous and so some caution is advised.
Habitats Woods and thickets in low mountains all over Japan[58].
Range E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Euonymus fortunei Winter Creeper, Wintercreeper Euonymus


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Loadmaster
Euonymus fortunei Winter Creeper, Wintercreeper Euonymus
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Summary

Bloom Color: Green, White. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Prostrate, Spreading or horizontal, Variable spread.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of climber
Euonymus fortunei is an evergreen Climber growing to 4.5 m (14ft) by 10 m (32ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in leaf all year, in flower in July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

E. radicans.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade; Ground Cover; Hedge; North Wall. By. East Wall. By. South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Cancer  Women's complaints

Plants contain the anticancer compound dulcitol[218]. The plant is used in gynaecological applications[218].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Hedge  Hedge

A good evergreen ground cover plant[184, 200]. The sub species E. fortunei radicans and E. fortunei carrieri are particularly useful, other forms to use include 'Emerald and Gold', 'Emerald Gaiety', 'Coloratus', 'Dart's Carpet' and 'Kewensis[182, 188, 197]. Plants can be grown as a low hedge[29], the varieties 'Emerald and Gold' and 'Variegatus' are normally used. They are very tolerant of clipping[200].

Special Uses

Ground cover  Hedge  Hedge

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Container, Erosion control, Ground cover, Massing. Thrives in almost any soil, including chalk, and is particularly suited to dry shaded areas[200]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a well-drained loamy soil. Thrives in sunny positions and in deep shade[11, 182], though it does not fruit so well in the shade. Plants are hardy to about -18°c[202]. A shrubby somewhat creeping plant that can also climb by means of aerial roots[184], if placed by a support, a wall, tree or fence, the plant will start to climb it and will be self-attaching to a large degree[182, 219]. Plants do not normally require pruning[219]. Plants have two forms of growth, a juvenile form and a mature form when the plants come into flower[219]. Plants in Britain often retain the juvenile form and never flower[219]. A polymorphic species[58], there are a number of named varieties selected for their ornamental value[182, 202]. Special Features:Not North American native, Invasive, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

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Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 8 - 12 weeks warm followed by 8 - 16 weeks cold stratification and can then be sown in a cold frame[78, 98]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm long taken at a node or with a heel, July/August in a frame. Very easy[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

(Turcz.)Hand-Mazz.

Botanical References

1158200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

dolly leonnig   Fri May 4 2007

Please be so kind as to tell me where I may purchase plants in US Thank you

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