Wintercreeper ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ is a variant of spindle tree, also known as wintercreepers. This variant has distinctive green leaves with a golden-yellow edging, which gives it its poetic name. Many wintercreeper variants are bred for color and size variations. This kind grows 30 to 61 cm tall and wide making it a popular decorative variant for borders.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Noted for its luminous and attractive foliage, Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ (Wintercreeper) is a low-growing, broadleaf, evergreen shrub with a spreading habit. It forms a dense, bushy mat of glossy, ovate to elliptic, dark green leaves edged with gold and tinged pink in fall and winter. It produces a few tiny, inconspicuous, greenish flowers in early summer.
It grows up to 1-2 ft. tall (30-60 cm) with a spread of 3-4 ft. (90-120 cm). Wintercreeper spreads both by creeping stems which root where they touch the ground, and by animal or water-dispersed seeds. Euonymus fortunei has been reported to be invasive in natural areas in most of the states in the eastern half of the U.S.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Overall Euonymus varieties need diverse sun exposures, such as bigger trees and giant shrubs require more sun. Some ground cover species need a part and full shades, while some creeping species reach up to the foliage of the host plant foliage to acquire light as their need. They are medium shade tolerant.
Temperature
Dry cold winds are not favored for the growth of wintercreeper ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’, as it prefers warmer temperatures for its optimum growth potential. The annual day temperature should range between 12 to 20 ℃ whereas night temperatures range is between 4 to 12 ℃. It is fairly tolerant of freezing temperatures in the winter and less tolerant of heat. In addition, wintercreeper ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ has average water needs. It needs water regularly but overwatering is inappropriate.
Watering
Wintercreeper ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ is a plant that prefers moderate water conditions, striking a balance between dry and wet environments. It’s native to areas with fairly regular rainfall patterns. Its watering habits reflect this, requiring watering once every 1-2 weeks. Being an evergreen plant, wintercreeper ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ retains its leaves throughout the year, which helps it conserve water efficiently even in less than ideal conditions.
Soil
Wintercreeper ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ is adaptable from poor to rich soil with medium water holding capacity that is well-drained and aerated. Damp calcareous soils equally favor its growth including compact and dry soils. It is also adaptable to a variety of soil pH where it can successfully grow in acidic to high alkali soils of varying pH ranging from 5.6-7.2. Wintercreeper ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ can also grow in swamplands, bottomland hardwood forests, thickets and slopes near or on the stream banks. When it becomes fully established, it is exceptionally drought tolerant.
Fertilizing
For optimal health, wintercreeper ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ thrives on a balanced fertilizer in spring and summer, ensuring robust growth and foliage vibrancy. During active growth, a high-nitrogen formula can be applied monthly to support vigorous development. Moderation is key—over-fertilization can harm wintercreeper ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’, so follow package instructions closely. As growth slows in fall and winter, reduce feeding accordingly. Always water wintercreeper ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ after fertilizing to help nutrients reach roots and prevent burn.
Planting Instructions
Planting is done through digging a pit of suitable size at the selected location in the garden that is well aerated and suits the needs of the variety being planted. Dig a pit double the size (in-depth and width) of the pot carrying your plant. Remove all garden soil out of the pit to make an even surface for planting.
Add 5 to 8 cm of the similar garden soil into the pit that was previously removed before placing your plant into the pit, gently. Fill in the pit with remaining garden soil to the surface of the garden soil. Water frequently till the newly added soil becomes settled into the pit.
Keep on watering for the initial 4-5 days and add more garden soil to the desired pit level as needed. Water your plants during the first year of growth regularly until it establishes its root system. The spacing of wintercreeper ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ to establish hedges is recommended 1 to 1.3 m apart while spacing for the shrubs or small trees is often observed from 2.5 to 3 m apart.
Pruning
Pruning is often practiced on the wintercreeper ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ grown for hedge formation in the landscapes. Medium to heavy pruning is advised if the purpose is to shape or topiary formation otherwise it goes well unpruned. Winter is the best pruning and trimming time for the wintercreeper ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ other than evergreen shrubs.
Propagation
Wintercreeper ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ is effectively propagated through cuttings, a method that suits its robust, woody stem structure. For successful propagation, choose healthy, non-flowering shoots and make cuttings about 4-6 inches long. Strip off the lower leaves, ensuring a couple of leaf nodes are buried when planted in a well-draining potting mixture. Maintaining adequate moisture and warmth will enhance root development, while a rooting hormone can improve success rates. Once roots are established, wintercreeper ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ can be potted on or introduced into its final growing location.
Transplanting
For wintercreeper ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’, timing is key—ideally during the temperate embrace of late spring to early summer or the cool caress of mid-fall to late fall. Choose a spot where it can bask in part to full sun, sheltered from harsh winds. When transplanting, gently encourage root spread to help it settle in its new home.
III. Uses and Benefits
Extremely versatile, Wintercreeper ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ may be used as a trailing ground cover, a low hedge, as an edging plant along paths, massed on slopes to control erosion or as a foundation plant. With support, it will climb vigorously and is ideally trained against a shady wall.
