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Shrub · Celastraceae family

Japanese euonymus

Euonymus japonicus

Full sun to part shade in a garden 2.5–4 m × 1.5–2.4 m Flowers June to −23 °C
Flower colours Click a colour

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun to part shade
in a garden after 10 years2.5–4 m
in the wild up to 4.5 m
spacing 1.5 m
FlowersJune
PlantingMarch–April, September–October
WinterNo winter protection

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

tolerates any pH
acidicneutralalkaline
average to moistnot fussy about soil

Watering

only in dry spellsdrought tolerant once establishedless when it rains

Frost

−23 °C
no winter protectiongreen in winter too

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).

1 m2 m3 m4 m3–4.5 mspread 1.5–2.4 m
3–4.5 m× spread 1.5–2.4 m

Plant 1.5 m apart.

Reaches maturity in about 5–10 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Flowers: JanuaryFlowers: FebruaryFlowers: MarchFlowers: AprilFlowers: MayFlowers: JuneFlowers: JulyFlowers: AugustFlowers: SeptemberFlowers: OctoberFlowers: NovemberFlowers: DecemberPlanting: JanuaryPlanting: FebruaryPlanting: MarchPlanting: AprilPlanting: MayPlanting: JunePlanting: JulyPlanting: AugustPlanting: SeptemberPlanting: OctoberPlanting: NovemberPlanting: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FlowersPlantingFeeding
Now, in October: a good time for planting (container plant). · watch for vine weevil.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Flowers

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

June · green

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

container plant: March–April, September–October

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May–June

What to plant now (October) full list in October (244) →

Feeding

Nutrition.

Horn meal

up to 40 g/m² a year, if the soil needs it · May–June

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

High riskMedium riskLow riskRisk for this plant according to the source · no label = no documented level

Euonymus scale

Unaspis euonymi
High riskpest
More about this problem

What you will see

White/brown scales on shoots and leaves, weak growth, lower leaves drop.

The source says: it is a key pest of this plant.

How to protect

  1. By hand when presentscrape off in light infestation, prune out
  2. Gentle spray before spring growthhorticultural oil on stems and branches
  3. Chemical — only when nothing else helps as per the labelOnly if the damage is severe: a product authorised in your country against: euonymus scale.
Euonymus scalepestHigh risk

What you will see

White/brown scales on shoots and leaves, weak growth, lower leaves drop.

The source says: it is a key pest of this plant.

How to protect

  1. By hand when presentscrape off in light infestation, prune out
  2. Gentle spray before spring growthhorticultural oil on stems and branches
  3. Chemical — only when nothing else helps as per the labelOnly if the damage is severe: a product authorised in your country against: euonymus scale.
More about this problem
Powdery mildews

Powdery mildews

Medium riskdiseasesource covers the whole genus
More about this problem

What you will see

White powdery coating on leaves and shoots.

The source says: it is the most common disease of euonymus.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • open pruning, do not plant too densely
    • rake up and remove fallen leaves
  2. By hand when presentremove affected parts
  3. Gentle spray at the first symptomspotassium bicarbonate or horticultural oil (only for heavy infestation)
  4. Chemical — only when nothing else helps as per the labelOnly if the damage is severe: a product authorised in your country against: powdery mildew.
Powdery mildewsdiseaseMedium risk

What you will see

White powdery coating on leaves and shoots.

The source says: it is the most common disease of euonymus.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • open pruning, do not plant too densely
    • rake up and remove fallen leaves
  2. By hand when presentremove affected parts
  3. Gentle spray at the first symptomspotassium bicarbonate or horticultural oil (only for heavy infestation)
  4. Chemical — only when nothing else helps as per the labelOnly if the damage is severe: a product authorised in your country against: powdery mildew.
More about this problem
Vine weevil

Vine weevil

Otiorhynchus sulcatus
pest
More about this problem

What you will see

Possible.

When to look

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
September–March

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • regularly check for notched leaf edges (thick evergreen leaves)
    • when repotting, remove larvae from the roots
  2. By hand spring – summer, after darkcollect adult beetles in the evening in warm weather with a torch, or by shaking the shrub over paper; leaf damage by adults usually does not harm the plant
  3. Biological August to early Septemberentomopathogenic nematodes against the larvae: Steinernema at 5–20 °C, Heterorhabditis at 12–20 °C; they work poorly in dry or heavy soil
Vine weevilpest · September–March

What you will see

Possible.

When to look

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
September–March

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • regularly check for notched leaf edges (thick evergreen leaves)
    • when repotting, remove larvae from the roots
  2. By hand spring – summer, after darkcollect adult beetles in the evening in warm weather with a torch, or by shaking the shrub over paper; leaf damage by adults usually does not harm the plant
  3. Biological August to early Septemberentomopathogenic nematodes against the larvae: Steinernema at 5–20 °C, Heterorhabditis at 12–20 °C; they work poorly in dry or heavy soil
More about this problem
Sources (5)

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When does Japanese euonymus flower?

In June; the flowers are green.

Does Japanese euonymus tolerate shade?

It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.

How much space does Japanese euonymus need?

At maturity 1.5–2.4 m wide and 3–4.5 m tall; recommended spacing 1.5 m.

Powdery mildews — what can you do?

open pruning, do not plant too densely remove affected parts

Euonymus scale — what can you do?

scrape off in light infestation, prune out

Sources (16) Checked 24 October 2026

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