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Page 2
This white variegated form started from a little piece brought from my husband's old garden twenty-five years ago. He doesn't know the name, but I do believe it is very likely 'Silver Queen' - see if you don't agree with me. The bit was planted at the base of one of the oaks by the front door. It stayed on the ground for several years and then began climbing. Now, it flourishes about fifteen feet (5 m) up this huge tree. Like the climbing hydrangea, it thrusts out branching arms that shimmer in the sun rays piercing the oak canopy. In winter, the newer foliage develops a pink cast, as do most of the cultivars with variegated foliage - quite lovely.
My other E. fortunei is, I think, 'Emerald 'n Gold' - of course, the tag is long gone and so is my memory. When I bought this, I do remember it looked like a small shrub, a nice rounded mound. After settling down in the border, it began to extend tentative branches as though exploring for something solid to climb. It didn't find a tree, but has worked a few strands up through some mature Ilex crenata 'Helleri', creating interesting, if surprising, color contrasts in spring when the gold is most pronounced. As a groundcover, it is of no use in keeping weeds at bay because it's not thick enough. This may be because it is in quite a bit of shade, but I think rather it is the nature of the plant. I've taken rooted bits and started them to grow up an old black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) in another part of the garden that receives a bit more direct sun, where I find the gold color more persistent.
The species has leathery green leaves, but many of the cultivars are very colorful. For example, 'Moonshadow', photographed at the Philadelphia Flower Show. More E. fortunei varieties and cultivars: Euonymus fortunei (syn. E. radicans actually var. radicans), while not actually aggressive in the sense that Hall's Honeysuckle is, has escaped cultivation via bird spread seed and is pretty well naturalized throughout the east and middle sections of the US. Its near relatives, the bittersweet vines (Celastrus) spp. are much more aggressive in nature. There are two species commonly grown, the native American bittersweet, Celastrus scandens and the more aggressive oriental bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculata. Both are grown for their fall displays of ornamental berries.
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