Euonymus japonicus Happiness - Japanese Spindle

Euonymus japonicus 'Happiness'® is a variety of dwarf Japanese Spindle tree, naturally forming a small compact ball with golden yellow young shoots. Evergreen, this adorable bush is a full-fledged decorative element: it brightens up the rock garden, forms an original and refined border, or decorates 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 tree belongs to the family of Celastraceae. It originates, as its name suggests, from 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 on the seaside where it can become a tree up to 8m (26ft 2in) tall. Its hardiness is around -12°C (10.4 °F), and its growth is quite slow.

The cultivar 'Happiness'®, with slow growth, will reach about 50cm (19.7in) in all directions at maturity. Its size can be easily limited if the bush is pruned every spring. Its habit is naturally very dense and rounded. Well-branched from the base, its branches bear dense foliage, composed of shiny, leathery and rigid leaves. They are lanceolate to ovate in shape, irregular, dentate on the edges, and slightly undulate. The young shoots, produced throughout the year, are a particularly bright and vivid golden yellow. They then turn green.

Euonymus japonicus 'Happiness'® is valuable for creating miniature hedges along paths or terraces, or for container gardening where it can easily replace boxwood. Its golden foliage enhances purple blooms and works wonders in partially shaded areas of the garden. Well adapted to seaside and urban gardens, the Japanese Spindle tree 'Happiness' can be planted together with robust ground covers such as Teucrium chamaedrys, adorned with a few Erigeron karvinskianus plants and Variegated Acanthus 'Whitewater', with beautifully variegated foliage and soft pink flower spikes.

Tips: Water during dry periods to maintain beautiful foliage.