Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei)
Example of approximately what these plants look like when shipped. See the eighth photograph of any plant to see a photo of what it looks like when shipped.A show-stopping, leathery rich evergreen trailing shrub-like vine, Euonymus fortunei promises to deliver a deep backdrop for any landscape. Its fast growth rate offers quick, erosion controlling coverage in a variety of environmental conditions including salt, slopes, a wide pH range, poor soil, and anything from dense shade to full sun.
The deep green or purple-green (depending on variety) shiny, egg-shaped leaves are almost like flowers themselves making this plant truly irresistible. If you've got a large, blank canvas, this is one groundcover you'll want to consider.
The deep green or purple-green (depending on variety) shiny, egg-shaped leaves are almost like flowers themselves making this plant truly irresistible. If you've got a large, blank canvas, this is one groundcover you'll want to consider.
See photographs comparing average sizes of some bare roots and potted plants
Product
![]() 1 flat of 18 3 1/2" pots: $89.46 ($4.97 per plant) Wintercreeper 'Emerald 'N Gold' is a vibrant evergreen shrub with bright yellow-edged, green leaves that turn pinkish in winter. It grows compactly to about 2-3 feet tall and wide, perfect for borders and ground cover. In stock. |
![]() 1 flat of 18 3 1/2" pots: $89.46 ($4.97 per plant) A compact shrub with dense, glossy green foliage. Ideal for low hedges and borders, it grows up to 1-2 feet tall, providing year-round interest with minimal maintenance. In stock. |
![]() 1 flat of 18 3 1/2" pots: $98.46 ($5.47 per plant) Wintercreeper 'Kewensis' is a versatile ground cover and climber with tiny, dense evergreen leaves. It spreads widely, 3-6" tall. Perfect for covering ground or vertical spaces in gardens. In stock. |
![]() 25 - 249: $4.97 each | 250 - 999: $4.67 each Incredible emerald (spring, summer) evergreen trailing vine that turns burgundy in fall. Rapid spreading, it tolerates most conditions, including poor soils and drought. Mature height 6-12". In stock. |
![]() On Sale!: $0.97 Discount: 48% Incredible emerald (spring, summer) evergreen trailing vine that turns burgundy in fall. Rapid spreading, it tolerates most conditions, including poor soils and drought. Mature height 6-12". In stock. |
![]() 1 flat of 18 3 1/2" pots: $85.86 ($4.77 per plant) Incredible emerald (spring, summer) evergreen trailing vine that turns burgundy in fall. Rapid spreading, it tolerates most conditions, including poor soils and drought. Mature height 6-12". In stock. |
![]() 1 flat of 50 2.25" peat pots: $148.50 ($2.97 per plant) Incredible emerald (spring, summer) evergreen trailing vine that turns burgundy in fall. Rapid spreading, it tolerates most conditions, including poor soils and drought. Mature height 6-12". In stock. |
![]() 1 flat of 18 3 1/2" pots: $89.46 ($4.97 per plant) Silver-Veined Wintercreeper is a climbing evergreen with distinctive dark green leaves featuring silvery veins. It reaches up to 6 feet tall. Ideal for adding vertical interest or as a ground cover in shaded gardens. In stock. |
![]() 25 - 249: $4.97 each | 250 - 999: $4.67 each A hardy deep emerald, leathery evergreen trailing vine that covers quickly and thoroughly. Tolerates most environmental conditions, including poor soils and drought. Mature height 6-12". Temporarily out of stock. Expected 11/04/2024.Email when available |
![]() 50 - 249: $1.87 each | 250 - 999: $1.57 each A hardy deep emerald, leathery evergreen trailing vine that covers quickly and thoroughly. Tolerates most environmental conditions, including poor soils and drought. Mature height 6-12". In stock. |
![]() 54 - 107: $4.17 each | 108 - 1025: $3.97 each A hardy deep emerald, leathery evergreen trailing vine that covers quickly and thoroughly. Tolerates most environmental conditions, including poor soils and drought. Mature height 6-12". Temporarily out of stock. Expected 11/25/2024.Email when available |
Specifications
- Cold hardiness zone: 4-9 (-30 degrees F) - Contact your local extension to confirm hardiness if you are in a fringe zone (we cannot guarantee hardiness in fringe zones)
- AHS Heat Zone: 9-1
- Light:
Full sun
Part sun
Shade
- Growth rate: Fast
- Mature prostrate height: 6-12"
- Spread: 12-36"
- Spacing: 6-9"
- Tolerant of: Deer, Drought, Foot Traffic, Poor Soil, Rabbits, Salt
- pH of Soil: 4.5 - 7.5, Ideal pH: 5.5 - 6.5
- Grows Under Trees: Conifer - Yes, Walnut - Yes, Other - Yes
- Cascades: Yes
- Climbs: Yes
- Spreads by creeping: Yes
- Good for erosion control: Yes
- Evergreen: Yes
- Good for slopes: Yes
- Vine: Yes
- Weed suppressor (once established): Yes
General information about Euonymus fortunei (Wintercreeper): If you want something similar to Ivy, but different, this plant will be a perfect fit for you. Euonymus fortunei, often referred to as Wintercreeper or even Fortune’s Spindle, is an elegant, understated woody evergreen vine native to China, Korea, and Japan. It is excellent for slopes and erosion control. Stems root along nodes, spreading indefinitely as a sprawling, tangled, bushy carpet somewhat similar in appearance to Vinca from a distance. Similar to ivy, using small rootlets on stems to climb, Wintercreeper reaches heights up to 65 feet in her attempts to gain more sunlight. Its approach to climbing is not the only character trait Wintercreeper shares with Ivy. Both ivy and Wintercreeper have a sterile, juvenile, non-flowering, climbing, (or creeping) phase. After growing tall enough to reach the crowns of trees, Wintercreeper develops into an adult. This flowering phase does not have climbing rootlets. The (1 to 2 1/2 inch long and 1/2 to 1 1/2 inch broad) leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, elliptic to elliptic-ovate, with a finely serrated margin. The flowers are inconspicuous (1/8 inch in diameter), with four small greenish-yellow petals, and the fruit, if any, are four-lobed, pale green pod-like berries. Inside each lobe is a single fleshy-coated orange seed. In the end, the rich emerald to bright green foliage is the real show stopper offering the benefit of climbing for rock walls, topiaries, arbors and more. Gardener Tips Euonymus fortunei responds beautifully to an early spring pruning, some elect to mow it on a high setting to keep a tidy appearance. |
Care
In areas where spreading is not desired, trim back the runners before they take root or prune ruthlessly once a year.
General information that applies to all plants: - Ground preparation, fertilization, pH
- Planting instructions
- Explanation and description of bare roots
- How to plant bare root plants
- If you cannot plant bare roots right away
Shipping
No unusual shipping concerns for this plant. |
Precise delivery - another benefit from shopping with us is that you know how many days delivery will take and can control exactly when your order will be shipped.
Shipping information that applies to all plants:
- Transit Time For Your Shipment (at most 3 days)
- When We Ship
- You May Specify Your Shipping Date
- Lookup Shipping Date and Tracking Information
- Special Delivery Instructions
- No Shipments To: AK, AZ, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA or internationally
- Changing Your Shipping Date
- Accepting Delivery
- Unpacking Your Order
- Returns