Euonymus japonicus El Dorado

Euonymus japonicus 'El Dorado' is a small variety of Japanese Spindle forming a compact bush, remarkable for its large, bright and luminous golden yellow leaves. This adorable little evergreen bush with a bushy and upright habit is very decorative. It will brighten up the rockery, form an original and refined border, or decorate the terrace, even in the middle of winter. It will thrive in light shade, in ordinary soil, even limestone, but remaining moist.

The Japanese Spindle belongs to the Celastraceae family. It is native to Japan but it is also found in China and Korea. In nature, this large bush grows on slopes, in open areas on the edge of forests, and even by the seaside where it can become a tree up to 8m tall. Its hardiness is around -12°C, and its growth is quite slow.

The slow-growing 'El Dorado' cultivar will reach about 1.50m in height and 1.20m in spread at maturity. Its dimensions can be easily limited if the bush is pruned every spring. Its habit is naturally very dense and upright. It is well-branched from the base and its branches bear dense foliage, composed of shiny, leathery and rigid leaves. They are lanceolate to ovate in shape, irregular, with toothed and slightly wavy edges. The young shoots, produced throughout the year, are a particularly bright and luminous golden yellow.

Euonymus japonicus 'El Dorado' is valuable for creating the permanent structure of low borders and is particularly good for decorating the terrace. Its golden foliage enhances purple flowers and works well in partially shaded areas of the garden. Japanese Spindle 'El Dorado' is well adapted to coastal areas and urban gardens where it can be used to create miniature hedges along pathways or terraces. It can be planted alone or with robust ground covers such as Teucrium chamaedrys, adorned with a few plants of Erigeron karvinskianus and Acanthus Whitewater, with beautifully variegated foliage and soft pink flower spikes.

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