Euonymus plants
Euonymus plants are a varied group comprising a mix of evergreen and deciduous shrubs. Evergreen varieties are most popular, especially variegated ground cover varieties and upright, bushy forms of Euonymus japonicus. Their unique, distinctive appearance and year-round colour makes them popular for garden designs and a must-have for any shrub border. They can be kept clipped to achieve a formal, structured look in borders, to showcase pathways or create focus points and highlight other garden features such as sculptures and large hedges. If left to grow naturally, their bushy habit creates a more informal, relaxed appearance. Evergreen euonymus also work well as low hedges with their variegated foliage creating unique shades and patterns of green, yellows, whites and pinks. Euonymus are commonly known as Spindle plants, given the wood from some varieties was historically used to make spindles for spinning wool. Deciduous euonymus, known as Spindleberries, are large shrubs or trees grown for their attractive fruits and autumn foliage colour.