Family: Celastraceae
Author: (Turcz.) Hand.-Mazz.
Bibliography: Symb. Sin. 7: 660 (1933)
Year: 1933
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Euonymus
Vegetable: False
Observations: Assam to Temp. E. Asia and W. & C. Malesia
Description
Climbing euonymus, scientifically known as Euonymus fortunei, is a versatile and widespread evergreen plant belonging to the Celastraceae family. Renowned for its hardiness and extensive usage in horticulture, this species can be found in a range of habitats stretching from Assam through temperate East Asia and extending to Western and Central Malesia.
First documented in scientific literature in Symbolae Sinicae in 1933 by Hand.-Mazz. who built upon Turcz.’s original classification, Euonymus fortunei exhibits a robust capacity for adaptation. This has contributed to its prevalence and popularity in both natural and cultivated landscapes.
As a climbing plant, it is known for its vigorous growth and ability to cling to various structures, making it an excellent choice for covering walls, arbors, and trellises. The foliage remains attractive throughout the year, providing continuous aesthetic appeal. The leaves are typically dark green, variegated with creamy white or gold, depending on the specific cultivar.
The plant’s ability to thrive in diverse environmental conditions—from the milder climates of temperate East Asia to the more tropical regions of Malesia—demonstrates its remarkable adaptability. This resilience, combined with its ornamental value, makes Climbing euonymus a favored plant among landscapers and garden enthusiasts alike.
Moreover, Euonymus fortunei is not just a decorative element; it also plays a role in various ecosystems, offering shelter and food sources to a range of wildlife. Its flowers, though inconspicuous, can attract pollinators, contributing to the biodiversity of the regions it inhabits.
Whether in urban settings, botanical gardens, or natural habitats, Climbing euonymus stands out as a resilient and aesthetically pleasing plant whose uses and benefits extend far beyond mere decoration.
Common Names
Eng: climbing euonymus, dwarf euonymus, spreading euonymus, winter creeper, winter-creeper, fortune’s spindle
Lav: fortīna segliņš
Fra: fusain de chine, fusain du japon
Deu: kletternder spindelstrauch
Dan: krybende benved
Swe: vinterbenved, klätterbenved
Nno: klatrespolebusk
Nob: klatrespolebusk, klatrebeinved
En: Climbing euonymus, Spreading euonymus, Winter-creeper, Dwarf euonymus, Winter creeper, Wintercreeper, Creeping Spindle, Fortune’s Spindle, Creeping strawberry bush, Fortune’s Spindle-tree
Zh: 常春卫矛, 扶芳藤
Cs: Brslen Fortunův
Da: Krybende Benved
Fi: Suikerosorvarinpensas
Fr: Fusain du Japon, Fusain de Chine, Fusain de Fortune
De: Kletternder Spindelstrauch, Kriech-Spindelstrauch
Hu: Repkénykecskerágó
Ko: 좀사철나무
Lv: Fortīna segliņš
Nb: Klatrespolebusk, Klatrebeinved
Nn: Klatrespolebusk
Fa: شمشاد پیچ
Pl: Trzmielina Fortune’a
Es: Ebonimus
Sv: Vinterbenved, Klätterbenved
Zh-tw: 扶芳藤
Zh-hant: 常春衛矛
Synonyms
- Cassine fortunei ((Turcz.) Kuntze)
- Elaeodendron fortunei (Turcz.)
Distribution
- Assam (native)
- China North-Central (native)
- China South-Central (native)
- China Southeast (native)
- Hainan (native)
- Japan (native)
- Jawa (native)
- Korea (native)
- Laos (native)
- Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
- Manchuria (native)
- Myanmar (native)
- Nansei-shoto (native)
- Philippines (native)
- Qinghai (native)
- Sulawesi (native)
- Sumatera (native)
- Taiwan (native)
- Thailand (native)
- Vietnam (native)
- Xinjiang (native)
- Alabama (introduced)
- Arkansas (introduced)
- Connecticut (introduced)
- Delaware (introduced)
- District of Columbia (introduced)
- Georgia (introduced)
- Germany (introduced)
- Hungary (introduced)
- Illinois (introduced)
- Indiana (introduced)
- Kansas (introduced)
- Kentucky (introduced)
- Maryland (introduced)
- Masachusettes (introduced)
- Michigan (introduced)
- Mississippi (introduced)
- Missouri (introduced)
- Nebraska (introduced)
- New Jersey (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- North Carolina (introduced)
- Ohio (introduced)
- Ontario (introduced)
- Pennsylvania (introduced)
- Rhode I. (introduced)
- Romania (introduced)
- South Carolina (introduced)
- Tennessee (introduced)
- Texas (introduced)
- Vermont (introduced)
- Virginia (introduced)
- Wisconsin (introduced)
Additional Images
Habit
Taken Jun 13, 2022 by de ce (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 16, 2021 by Lüdtke Allen Scott (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 27, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 20, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 7, 2022 by Else Nolden (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken May 21, 2021 by eva weixler (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 20, 2022 by Ica Balázsné (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 2, 2022 by manu BA (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 7, 2022 by Else Nolden (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 7, 2022 by Else Nolden (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Dec 8, 2021 by Michèle P (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 24, 2022 by Caw Vus (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 8, 2021 by Michèle P (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 21, 2022 by ans konijn (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 7, 2022 by Else Nolden (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Apr 4, 2020 by York Jamie (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 24, 2020 by ravesteijn milo (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 26, 2019 by Rick Meulenbroeks (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 20, 2019 by xam max (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 24, 2020 by corinna lyle (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Sep 17, 2022 by Caw Vus (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 9, 2020 by Oszkar Szilagyi (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 26, 2022 by nathaly ponte (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 8, 2022 by David Hocken (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 21, 2022 by Gilles Verbraeken (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Nov 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken May 8, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 8, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 24, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 28, 2021 by Luz M Rodriguez (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3169137)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:160893-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Euonymus fortunei (Turcz.) Hand.-Mazz.)
Specifications
Growth form: Stoloniferous
Growth habit: Shrub
Growth rate: Rapid
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.5
Ph minimum: 5.0