Euonymus japonicus Benkomasaki Erecta - Japanese Spindle

The Euonymus japonicus Benkomasaki Erecta is a variety of Japanese Spindle with a columnar, erect habit, and shiny, evergreen foliage. With its vertical branches covered in small leaves regularly arranged and its dense growth, it has an ornamental value similar to that of boxwood or yew, but its growth is slightly faster. Tolerating air pollution well, attractive all year round, and lending itself admirably to topiary, this well-groomed shrub has its place in urban or French-style gardens, as well as on terraces and balconies. This spindle should be grown in regions spared from very harsh winters and dry summers.

The Japanese Spindle belongs to the family of Celastraceae. It originates, as its name suggests, from Japan. But it can also be found in China and Korea. In the wild this large shrub grows on slopes, in open areas on the edge of forests and the seaside where it can reach a height of 8m (26.2ft) and become a tree. Its hardiness is around -12°C (10.4°F), and its growth is quite slow. The cultivar 'Benkomasaki', also marketed under the names 'Benkomoki', 'Erecta', Greenspire, or 'Green Rocket' ®, is a horticultural variety derived from the wild species.

In our gardens, 'Erecta' will reach an average height of 1.70m (5.5ft) with a spread of 1.30m (4.3ft), more if not regularly pruned. Its habit is naturally columnar and erect. Well-branched from the base, its upright branches carry dense foliage, composed of shiny, bright green leaves arranged closely and geometrically around the stem, similar to those of some shrubby veronicas. They are ovate in shape, 2 to 5cm (0.8 to 2in) long, finely toothed at the edges. The insignificant flowering takes place from May to July, at the tips of young shoots. Tiny white-greenish flowers with 4 petals are grouped in clusters. They are pollinated by insects and are sometimes followed by the formation of small green fruits that turn pink and orange in autumn, hanging under the branches.

Well adapted to the seaside and urban gardens, the Japanese Spindle Benkomasaki is an original and architectural shrub that can be used to replace boxwood in a low and regularly pruned hedge or to delineate an area of the garden such as the vegetable garden or a small rose garden. It can also be used to create hedges on the edges of a small garden or along a terrace to protect them from prying eyes. In the ground, it can be used to decorate, like a statue rising from a mass of lower shrubs and perennials. In this usage, it can be associated, for example, with Berberis atropurpurea Nana, variegated Fortune spindles, variegated dwarf ivies, ground-cover roses, and many others.

Tip: In case of drought, water to maintain beautiful foliage.