Euonymus JAPONICUS

Euonymus JAPONICUS - Japanese spindle, Japanese euonymus, Euonymus japonicus, Evergreen spindle.

Can be grown as a bonsai!

Euonymus is a genus of woody plants in the family Celastraceae. It includes about 130 species and is distributed in temperate and subtropical regions of Asia, Europe, and North America.

Plants of this genus are represented by shrubs, less often small trees, with erect or spreading stems. The leaves are entire, more often leathery, simple, opposite or whorled. In autumn, many species take on vibrant foliage coloration.

Flowering occurs in spring or early summer. Flowers are small, usually greenish-white, gathered in small inflorescences. The fruits are capsules with red, orange, or pink seeds, often with a brightly colored fleshy aril.

Japanese spindle is an evergreen shrub reaching a height of up to 2-3 m (6.6-9.8 ft). The stems are erect, densely leafy. The leaves are leathery, oval or elliptical, up to 7 cm (2.8 in) long, dark green, glossy, with an entire or faintly serrate margin.

Flowering occurs in May-June. The flowers are small, greenish-white, gathered in sparse axillary inflorescences. The fruits are three-valved capsules that split open when ripe, revealing bright orange seeds. The seeds are rounded, smooth, and glossy.

Before sowing, seeds are stratified: they are mixed with moist sand and kept at a temperature of around +4 °C (39 °F) for 2-3 months. Then they are sown to a depth of 1-1.5 cm (0.4-0.6 in) into a loose substrate based on peat and sand. The container is covered with glass or film. Regular ventilation is carried out. The germination temperature is maintained at 20-22 °C (68-72 °F).

Seedlings emerge after 6-8 weeks. After the appearance of 2-3 true leaflets, pricking out into individual containers is performed. Young plants are provided with uniform watering and good diffuse lighting.

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Cultivation in sunny spots or in light partial shade is recommended. Under indoor conditions, the plant is placed in a bright location with the possibility of light shading during midday hours. In open ground, preference is given to areas protected from wind.

During the warm season, a temperature of 20-26 °C (68-79 °F) is maintained. In winter, when kept indoors, the temperature should not fall below 5-8 °C (41-46 °F). Watering is carried out regularly after the top layer of substrate dries out. In winter, watering is reduced, and overwatering is avoided.

A loose fertile substrate with the addition of humus and sand is used. Repotting is carried out in spring once every 2-3 years using the transfer method. Drainage is mandatory to provide good air exchange at the roots.

From spring to the end of summer, complete fertilizers are applied every 2-3 weeks. In autumn and winter, feeding is not carried out. With an excess of nitrogen, a reduction in leaf coloration in variegated forms is possible.

Sanitary and formative pruning is performed to maintain a compact shrub shape. Propagation is carried out by seeds, cuttings, or layerings. When grown indoors, preference is given to cuttings.