Discover 7 variegated spindles with exceptional foliage

Euonymus fortunei 'Dan's Delight' - evergreen

The Euonymus fortunei ‘Dan’s Delight’ is an evergreen spindle with variegated green and white foliage, which brightens the garden or terrace and gives it a refined touch. The elliptical, crenate leaves measure 3–4 cm long. In spring, a discreet flowering of small clusters of pale greenish-white flowers appears. It is followed by decorative red berries, not edible for humans but enjoyed by birds. With a compact habit, this bush grows to 50 cm high by 50 cm wide and is suitable for pots, borders or rock gardens. It tolerates sun or light shade in ordinary soil, but should be kept fairly moist. Hardy to -23.5°C, it tolerates calcareous soils, as well as winds and sea spray.

In the garden, pair it with groundcover plants such as creeping cotoneaster or other creeping Euonymus. You can also train it to climb up a low wall or place it in a container on your balcony or the steps of an outdoor staircase.

Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety' - Wintercreeper

The Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’ is an evergreen euonymus shrub with elegant dark-green, grey-green foliage edged in white. This shrub with a spreading habit reaches a height of 1 metre and a width of 1.5 metres, and can be used as groundcover as well as a climbing plant along a small wall, thanks to the flexibility of its shoots. The elliptical leaves are crenate and measure 2–4 cm long. The centre is dark green marbled with grey, with broad cream-white margins, which can turn pink in winter. In June, the foliage bears white, delicate flowering, followed by small orange fruits. Hardy to -23.5°C, this euonymus tolerates any soil type, provided it remains moist and well-drained. It can be planted in sun or in partial shade and can brighten shaded areas of the garden. It resists sea spray and tolerates chalky soil.

In a border, pair the bright foliage of this euonymus with bergenias, with Aubrietas and with small periwinkles. They will brighten shaded corners of your garden and form a pretty display.

Euonymus japonicus 'Président Gauthier' – Japanese spindle

Euonymus japonicus ‘President Gauthier’ is a Japanese spindle tree, which can reach 2 m tall with a 1.5 m spread. It stands out for its height and upright habit, as well as for its blue-green leaves with cream margins. Its evergreen leaves are broad, glossy and leathery, with finely dentate margins. They are blue-green with cream margins. Its foliage bears, from May to July, a discreet greenish flowering, then later in the season, small pink and orange fruits, enjoyed by birds. Hardy to -15°C, it can be planted in full sun or in partial shade, in well-drained soil that stays cool and is fairly calcareous.

It can be used to create informal hedges or clipped hedges, or incorporated into a shrub border, alongside small conifers such as boxwood and yew. It adapts well to coastal conditions as well as urban gardens.

Euonymus japonicus 'Ovatus Aureus (Marieke)' – Japanese spindle

L’Euonymus japonicus ‘Ovatus Aureus (Marieke)’ offers variegated foliage in green, white and bright yellow. It has a tall, upright, bushy habit of 2 metres tall at maturity and 1.60 metres wide. It adds a touch of elegance and light to a garden or balcony thanks to its evergreen foliage. The leaves are ovate and rounded, 3 to 5 cm long, rigid, glossy and finely dentate. They bear greenish flowers in May and June, which attract pollinating insects, before giving way to decorative small fruits in autumn. These fruits start green and then take on pink and orange colours. Hardy to -15°C, it thrives in full sun or partial shade in any well-drained soil and is particularly well suited to coastal gardens or urban settings.

This bush is ideal for creating a low hedge, brightening a border or being grown in a container. In a low hedge, you can pair it with Bronze fennel to play on colour contrasts, or with ground-cover roses or small-growing varieties.

Euonymus fortunei 'Golden Harlequin' - evergreen dwarf euonymus

The Euonymus fortunei ‘Golden Harlequin’ is a dwarf evergreen bush with distinctive and original foliage. Its leaves are, in fact speckled with dark green, ivory white and gold, making it a very bright and ornamental plant. Small in size, it reaches 30 cm high by 30 cm wide and will fit anywhere: in rockeries, borders and pots. In spring, it produces small pale greenish-white flowers, followed by decorative red berries enjoyed by birds. It tolerates frosts down to −23.5°C and will adapt to any soil type provided the soil remains moist, as it dislikes dry soils. It can be planted in full sun or partial shade.

In a border or a pot, pair this bush with clumps of Waldsteinia ternata or with other dwarf, creeping euonymus.

Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald 'n' Gold' – Wintercreeper

Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n gold’ is a compact, bushy and spreading evergreen spindle with particularly bright variegated foliage. It bears evergreen oval leaves with finely dentate margins, 2 to 5 cm long, with bright green foliage edged in golden yellow and turning pink in winter. It bears small white flowers that appear from May to August. White, spherical fruits containing orange seeds follow. This shrub grows to 60 cm high and 90 cm wide. It makes an excellent groundcover for a border or rock garden. It can also be trained to climb a support, reaching up to 3 metres. Hardy to -23.5°C, it tolerates full sun or partial shade in any moist, well-drained soil. It also withstands winds.

In a rock garden, plant this shrub beside colourful perennials, as well as other creeping euonymus.

Euonymus fortunei 'Goldy' - evergreen

Euonymus fortunei ‘Goldy’ is an evergreen shrub with remarkable foliage variegated with gold and green, which lights up the garden and the terrace. With a neat appearance, it is perfect in a rock garden, in a container, in a border, or as a low hedge. It can also be placed at the front of a shrub bed, where it will brighten the display. Small in size, it grows to about 50 cm wide by 50 cm tall at maturity. It prefers a partly shaded position and moist, well-drained soil. This pretty golden-tinged foliage is complemented by a small spring flowering, followed by small red berries.

In a garden, have fun pairing its golden foliage with purple flowers, such as periwinkles or aubrietias.

In addition to this selection, discover our full range of Euonymus with variegated or plain foliage, as well as our planting and cultivation of Euonymus guide.