Description
Euonymus Fortunei Emerald n Gold 25-35cm
‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ is a variegated dwarf evergreen that quickly spreads while maintaining its compact shape, making it an excellent choice for both general ground cover and more formal edging. Its foliage is a subtle bright green with complimentary and contrasting irregular golden yellow margins that assume a warm and welcome pink tinge in winter. Like many varieties of Euonymus fortune, ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’s occasional display of small, greenish flowers is muted – this plant is grown and loved for its foliage.
Euonymus Fortunei Emerald n Gold At-A-Glance
Foliage Type: Evergreen
Flowers: Pale green in summer
Hardiness: ✯✯✯✯✯
Ease of maintenance: ✯✯✯✯✯
Drought Resistance: ✯✯✯✯
Growth Rate: Medium Slow
Soil type: Any
Wet/Dry: Well-drained
Preferred situation: Full sun to partial shade
Height / Spread: 0.5m x 1.0m
Soil and Situation: Like its taller growing sibling‘Emerald Gaiety’, ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ needs little other than good drainage. It too will grow happily in just about any soil – sand, clay, chalk or loam – and is equally unconcerned when it comes to pH – an acid, alkaline or neutral soil will suit it fine. Similarly, it needs some sun, but will be content in partial shade, sheltered or otherwise.
Maintenance: An annual pruning in mid to late spring will encourage growth and help keep a compact shape. If ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’has been planted as a low-lying hedge or border edging, an occasional mini-trim during the growing season will do no harm and help maintain a more rigid shape.
Versatility: ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ works as ground cover, as a low lying hedge or as edging for borders and pathways. It also works well in a smaller container.
And finally: The father of Asiatic plant hunter Robert Fortune (after whom Euonymus fortunei is named) was a hedger by profession. Robert was a gifted botanist but this did not stop him taking little brown envelopes from the East India Company on the side. While in China on genuine botanical missions (often carried out in disguise including native costume, a shaved head and a grafted Chinese style pigtail) he was also collecting tea plant samples for the Company which they then cultivated for their own plantations in India.
