Wintercreeper Euonymus

Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei, Celastraceae) is a broadleaf evergreen vine or trailing shrub from China, mounding 1 to 3 feet tall as groundcover but climbing to 40 to 70 feet via adventitious roots when a vertical surface is available. Opposite, serrate leaves (2.5 to 6.5 centimeters) are dark green with silver veins. Small greenish-white flowers (6 millimeters) are inconspicuous.

Wintercreeper grows in sun to part shade on light, well-drained soil and adapts to most moisture conditions, hardy in Zones 5a to 8b. It is classified as highly invasive in eastern North America, where it smothers native vegetation. Documented diseases include powdery mildew, crown gall, bacterial blight, and anthracnose; euonymus scale, cottony camellia scale, and root weevil are the primary pests. Cultivars include 'Coloratus' (purple winter foliage), 'Emerald Gaiety' (white-margined, RHS Award of Garden Merit), 'Emerald 'n' Gold,' and 'Moonshadow.'