In nature, there are more than 200 species of representatives of the genus euonymus. They differ from each other in color and shape of leaves, inflorescences and fruits. In this article, we will examine in more detail one of the species that is most adapted for cultivation in our climatic conditions, the European euonymus. A description and photo of a colorful shrub can be seen below.
Description and characteristics of the plant
European euonymus is a deciduous shrub or tree, with an oval medium-dense crown, can reach 6-7 meters in height. Young shoots of green color turn black with age, due to cork formations on them they have a tetrahedral shape.
The leaves of this subspecies are smooth, leathery, ovoid in size up to 7 cm, the color palette is from light salad to yellow or red with white spots, the edges are with small cloves.
In nature, the flowering period, which lasts 15-20 days, falls on May-June, and in greenhouse conditions, greenhouses can bloom even in early spring. Initially, small whitish-green flowers appear on the branches, and after flowering, box-shaped fruits form from them. The fruits ripening in autumn look decorative in the form of pink capsules with spikes or wings, purple-raspberry color at the stage of full ripening. Inside the fruit are seeds in the shape of earrings, surrounded by dense pulp.
A plant with a moderate growth rate, final height reaches in 15-20 years, and durability is about 60 years.
European euonymus shrub is photophilous, but can grow in the shade, prefers loose fertile soil, is resistant to drought and does not tolerate moisture stagnation, frost-resistant culture, withstands temperatures of -15-25 degrees. The people also call them “witch's earrings”, “spindle tree”, euonymus bruselin and even “wolf bast”.
It occurs in the deciduous forests of Crimea, Ukraine, Russia and throughout Europe. It is grown due to decoratively variegated foliage. For home gardening, dwarf and small-leaved forms, many original varieties are bred. And landing and care for the forces of anyone. The description of the plant can be reduced to several words: a very beautiful decorative-flowering shrub, especially in the autumn period.
Decorative use of colorful euonymus
Today, the main function of the European euonymus is to serve as decoration of summer cottages, parks, gardens, alpine slides. It is recommended to grow also as an undergrowth in forest plantations. This plant is used for landscaping various objects: arrangement of garden borders, hedges and group plantings. Especially advantageous is the European euonymus in combination with decorative conifers. What landscape designers successfully use, combining an unusual shrub with plantings of juniper, cypress and thuja.
Euonymus is a shrub with rapid growth. By trimming it, you can form a chic decoration - a bonsai tree. Flexible branches and a plastic trunk allow the decorative shrub to give any shape: a pyramid, a ball, various garden sculptures. Dwarf euonymus hybrids are used in the interior as a container culture.
Varieties of European Bruslin
The following subspecies are most popular with gardeners and landscape designers.
European euonymus Red Cascade is considered one of the best garden decorations, the peak of beauty of which falls during the cold season. The leaves become multi-colored, the branches are densely covered with fruits of orange, pink, red color, which remain on the plant almost all winter, attracting the attention of others. A real explosion of colors is the European euonymus. The photo below reliably conveys the picturesqueness of this plant.
The Alba variety is characterized by the average size of the shrub, a light green crown, and the fruits are drop-out bolls of white color with a red core that last until late autumn.
European euonymus Sherwood - a shrub with a compact dark green crown, which sparkles with pink-red shades with the onset of autumn. Resistant to frost and drought, feels great in an urban environment. It reaches its greatest color during the fruiting period, when the bright pink fruits form an elegant cascade with hanging "earrings" from seeds. This beauty is preserved on the bush throughout the winter. Especially effective in combination with yellow autumn crops.
Decorative forms of euonymus
There are more than 20 deduced decorative forms of bruslin known for their crown and color of foliage. The most popular of them in landscaping:
- weeping (pendula) - the name speaks for itself, plants stand out with a weeping crown;
- dwarf (nana) - specimens up to 50 cm in height with creeping stems;
- purple (atropurpurea) - the owner of narrow leaves of a lilac hue;
- aucubolic (aucubaefolia) - a variety with a yellow-green crown;
- silver-spotted (argenteo-variegata) - characterized by white-spotted foliage;
- intermediate (intermedia) - is distinguished by large scarlet fruits in a frame of saturated green foliage.
Only positive reviews about European euonymus can be heard from the owners of a bright garden specimen.
Growing Features
Care and planting of the European euonymus does not cause difficulties even for novice gardeners-landscapers.
In the spring, with the onset of warm days, begin to plant these decorative seedlings. The soil must be nutritious and slightly acidic; ash or lime is added for this. The European euonymus quickly takes root, and since the roots grow greatly, the landing pit should be wide, with a mandatory drainage layer. Abundant watering is necessary only when planting, and the rest of the time, moderate moisture is enough.
Young euonymus seedlings are transplanted annually, and adults - once every 2-3 years. Do it in the spring. Large specimens are difficult to transplant, so they simply remove the upper layers of the soil and fill up with fresh substrate.
If the euonymus is grown as a container culture and it is required to slow down growth, when transplanting, the size of the container is not increased and it is taken not deep, but flat, to restrain root growth.
Rules for the care of ornamental plants
Agricultural cultivation includes:
- top dressing at the beginning of the growing season with complex fertilizers;
- moderate watering as the top layer of the earth dries;
- loosening and mulching after watering;
- sanitary pruning in early spring;
- making slaked lime during the autumn digging of the site;
- shelter from frost of young seedlings.
Planting and caring for this ornamental shrub is not very difficult.
Spindle-tree breeding
There are several ways to breed a picturesque shrub: dividing the bush, seeds, cuttings and cuttings.
Propagation by seeds is a rather complicated and lengthy process, as they germinate very slowly. In order to have at least some guarantee of germination, the seeds are stratified for 5-6 months.
Breeding with layering is actively used by gardeners, as this is a simple and easy process. In early spring, the lower shoots are freed from the leaves, bent to the ground and shallowly dug.
Cuttings are suitable for breeding plants older than five years. In June, 10 cm branches are cut, placed in slightly alkaline soil and covered with a film, creating greenhouse conditions. Cuttings are taken in a short period of up to two months. After that, they can be transplanted into separate pots for growing.
Dividing the bush - an affordable way, is used to propagate dwarf varieties of euonymus, as the root system of the plant grows well. When dividing, the bush is either extracted completely, or is dug on one side and divided into parts with root shoots. One part with a lump of land is planted, and the other remains to grow in the same place.
Pruning
An important role in the cultivation of euonymus is played by spring sanitary pruning, which contributes to intensive branching and the formation of a lush crown. European euonymus is a plant of moderate growth. The annual increase is 20-30 cm. Therefore, the shrub is quite enough for one “haircut” per year.
In early spring, the plant is pruned, removing damaged, frozen and too long branches. With dense tillering, strong truncation of branches is allowed. The molding crown pruning is carried out during the dormant period of the plant, after fruiting. The euonymus tolerates pruning well and quickly restores its decorative effect.
Having studied the simple rules of trimming, to carry out the procedure yourself at home will not be difficult. In this case, the instrument should be disinfected and pruned with gloves, as euonymus juice is toxic.
Diseases and pests of euonymus
The condition of the plant can be judged by the appearance of the leaves. If any deviations appear, you must immediately begin the fight against unpleasant symptoms.
Yellowing and falling leaves, a slowdown in crop growth are the result of increased temperature, excessive watering, and a lack of humidity in the winter.
The mottled crown loses its color due to insufficient lighting. Curled leaves with drying tips, on the contrary, are the result of excessively bright light.
With waterlogging, there is a risk of decay of the trunk and powdery mildew disease, which also leads to the discharge of foliage.
European euonymus can also be affected by some pests: aphids, ticks, scabies. To combat them, it is necessary to regularly treat the plants with industrial insecticides or with such folk remedies as tobacco or soap solution.
Do not be afraid to grow a European euonymus on your own, caring for it is simple, but the result is amazing.