Even if you don’t have a garden and only have a balcony, you can enjoy plants and flowers. And that even all year round. It is just a matter of choosing the right plants for each season. Even in the cold winter months you can bring nature closer. Some plants are hardy and can take a beating. Moreover, they are often very decorative due to their beautiful leaf color or brightly hued berries. A beautiful evergreen is the Euonymus fortunei or cardinal’s cap.
Description of the plant genus Euonymus or cardinal’s cap
The plant genus Euonymus or cardinal’s hat is the largest genus in the family of the Celastraceae or the Cardinals family. There are numerous species of the genus Euonymus in the form of shrubs and small trees, both deciduous and evergreen. The Cardinal’s Hat is spread all over the world. It grows in Asia, Australia, North America, Europe and Madagascar. One particular species, the Euonymus europaeus grows wild in Belgium and the Netherlands.
The deciduous shrubs are especially popular because of the beautiful leaf colors in autumn. The fruits that emerge in late summer and autumn are also very special. The evergreen shrubs are popular because of the colorful leaves.
The Dutch name cardinal’s hat refers to the shiny red or orange capsules that resemble a cardinal’s hat.
Long ago, the wood of the cardinal’s hat was used to make spinning-wheel spools. Hence the English name Spindle or Spindle tree and the German name Spindelstrauch.
Some well-known types are:
- Euonymus alatus
- Euonymus europaeus
- Euonymus fortunei
- Euonymus japonicus
- Euonymus nanus
Description of the Euonymus fortunei
The Euonymus fortunei or cardinal’s hat originates from Japan and Korea and is a hardy, evergreen shrub. It can be used as a climbing plant, ground cover, border plant and also as a balcony plant. The colorful leaves are a real feast for the eyes! They are oval or elliptical in shape and vary, depending on the cultivar, from green, dark green, glossy or not glossy, to green with yellow border, green with white border and green with yellow-white spots. Some cultivars develop a pink, purple-red or brown-red coloration in the fall.
From June to August, the Cardinal’s Cap blooms with inconspicuous greenish-white flowers.
The capsules pop open in the fall and then the bright yellow, red or orange seeds emerge.
The height varies according to the cultivar but is between 40 cm and 150 cm.
Location and care of the Euonymus fortunei
The Euonymus fortunei thrives in a spot in the sun as well as in the shade or partial shade. In the shade, however, the foliage loses its variegated colors and it just turns green. And the variegated leaves are just the charm of this shrub, so if possible, give it a place in the sun or partial shade. Also make sure that the plant is in a draft-free place.
Place the Euonymus fortunei in a spacious pot or tub, filled with sandy or loamy soil to which humus has been added. The soil must be well permeable, because soil that is too wet is harmful to the plant. Clay soil is certainly not suitable. Water regularly, especially if the plant is in the sun. The potting soil should remain slightly moist.
The Euonymus fortunei is a slow grower, so pruning is almost unnecessary. You can, however, prune the protruding shoots in March – April so that the plant retains a full and compact shape. To maintain the variegated colors in the leaves, the twigs with completely green leaves should be pruned in the summer.
Propagate
Propagation is very easy by cuttings. You can simply stick the stems you have cut into a mixture of sand and peat. They will take root very quickly. Preferably do this in the summer.
Cultivars
There are many cultivars of the Euonymus fortunei, including:
- Euonymus fortunei ‘Harlequin’: low-growing shrub that grows mainly in width. The variegated green-white leaves are small. Young shoots are often completely white. With its special color it is very decorative in winter flower boxes. Very hardy.
- Euonymus fortunei ‘Blondy’: this shrub grows up to 50 cm high. The leaves are quite large and have dark green and yellow spots. It is very hardy and thrives best in partial shade.
- Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald’ n Gold ‘: grows up to 30 cm high. The leaves are green with a golden yellow edge. In winter the leaves turn reddish.
- Euonymus fortunei ‘Dan’s Delight’: recent cultivar with gray-green leaves that are cream-colored rimmed. This beautiful color combination is maintained all year round.