Euonymus, Wintercreeper 'Emerald Gaiety'

Like all cultivars of this species, it frequently sports to other forms. These forms need to be cut out when they appear, as they can out...Read Morecompete the original cultivar.

I gave up planting this species before I realized its invasive potential, because I see so many plantings infested and disfigured or even killed by euonymus scale.

Once established, this species can be very difficult to get rid of. It's resistant to most herbicides, and regrows from small pieces of root.

It is naturalized in most of the eastern and central states. The US Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Nature Conservancy, and other organizations concerned with the preservation of natural areas in North America all have expressed concern about the invasive impact of this species on our environment.

It appears to be most destructive in Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, and neighboring states.

In Massachusetts, I often find seedlings when weeding properties where it isn't cultivated. Birds distribute the seeds widely. Cutting back climbing stems will temporarily reduce seeding.

Question: Which variety grows as a vine? What are its characteristics? What does it look like in Zone 6 (Central NJ) in wintertime?

The wintercreeper, Euonymus, I have now is a healthy fellow, slow growing ground creeper and doesn't get very high at all, maybe 4" - 6"....Read More

The other one I had, at another home, was more of an upright shrub and grew more vertically to about 18" - 24", with a spread of about 36".

We have a couple of these on the North side of our house near the foundation. It's very dry full shade. These Euonymus do pretty well the...Read Morere, have lived for at least 8 years with no attention, and the variegated foliage really lights up the area.

They are not as plump and lush looking as the photos here, of course!