Euonymus japonicus Suzanne - Japanese Spindle

The Euonymus japonicus 'Suzanne' is a variety of Japanese Spindle of small size, forming a compact bush, notable for its small dark green leaves, finely marginated with cream white. Evergreen, this adorable little shrub is a full-fledged decorative element: it brightens up the rockery, forms an original and refined border, or decorates the terrace even in the middle of winter. It will thrive in light shade, ordinary soil, even limestone, but remaining moist.

The Japanese Spindle belongs to the family of Celastraceae. It is native, as its name suggests, to Japan. But it is also found in China and Korea. In the wild, this large shrub grows on slopes, in open areas on the edge of the forest, up to the seashore where it can become a tree of 8 m (26 ft) in height. Its hardiness is around -12°C (10.4°F), and its growth is quite slow.

The cultivar 'Suzanne', sometimes known as 'Susan', has slow growth, and shows reduced development that will rarely exceed 80 cm (31.5 in) in all directions, especially if pruned every spring. Its natural habit is very dense and bushy, distinctly rounded. Well-branched from the base, its upright branches bear dense foliage, composed of glossy, tough and rigid leaves, dark green with cream white margins. They are lanceolate to ovate in shape, irregular, with dentate edges, and slightly undulate.

The Euonymus japonicus 'Suzanne' is valuable for establishing the permanent structure of low beds and particularly contributes to the decoration of the terrace. Its variegated foliage enhances all flowerings and works wonders in semi-shaded areas of the garden. Well-adapted to the seaside and urban gardens, the Japanese Spindle 'Suzanne' can be used to create miniature hedges along paths or terraces. It can be planted alone or accompanied by robust ground covers such as Teucrium chamaedrys, adorned with a few Erigeron karvinskianus plants and Acanthus Whitewater, with beautifully variegated foliage and soft pink flower spikes.