Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’
Emerald Gaiety Wintercreeper
- Family
- Celastraceae
- Height
- 2 to 3 feet
- Width
- 2 to 3 feet
- Flower color
- Inconspicuous greenish-white
- Foliage color
- Variegated with green and creamy white markings
- Bloom time
- Late spring to early summer
- Light
- Partial shade to full sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low
- Growing zone
- 5 to 9
- Wildlife
- Attracts birds with its ornamental fruits in autumn
About this plant
Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety' is a popular evergreen shrub prized for its ornamental foliage and versatility in garden landscapes. Its glossy, oval-shaped leaves are variegated with green and creamy white markings, creating a striking contrast that adds year-round visual interest. In spring, new growth is creamy yellow with chartreuse variegation, fading to white and green as the season progresses, and in colder climates, the foliage may take on a pinkish hue in winter.
'Emerald Gaiety' is low-maintenance and adaptable, thriving in various soil types and light conditions, though it prefers well-drained soil and partial shade to full sun. It is tolerant of drought, heat, and urban pollution, making it suitable for formal and informal garden settings, as well as for use as ground cover, a border plant, or a container specimen.
Works well in
Sun Gardens · Borders · Containers · Pathways & Walkways
Companion plants
Gaura · Weigela · Salvia · Baptisia · Lilies · Mexican feather grass
Design tip
Creamy white margins give ‘Emerald Gaiety’ a cooler, more subdued effect than gold-variegated wintercreepers. It works particularly well beside burgundy or deep green foliage, while the pink tones that develop in cold weather introduce an unexpected color change to the winter planting.
