Image 1 of 4

taken by Russell Stafford

Euonymus carnosus (ex: Arnold Arboretum) – An exceptional small tree or large shrub depending upon how you decide to grow it. It will take its time to achieve its 15 feet x narrower status, eventually becoming rounded to domed. The glossy deep green leaves are heavy-textured ellipses reminding me of large thickened bay leaves. The lovely creamy flowers, among the most beautiful of euonymus displays, dangle at the ends of long pedicels emitting a sweet fragrance. The bees love them! They are followed with very showy waxy four-lobed pink-red fruiting bodies that remind me of Chinese lanterns. These occur before but overlap with the autumn leaf color which becomes beautiful glossy deep claret red to burgundy – really stunning. When the leaves drop you are left with a smooth gray bark, handsome in the winter garden. Best color and fruiting will be attained in full sun in fertile draining soil. These have never set seed here… Folks, most euonymus are not intent upon controlling the world. Spring planting may be the wiser tactic for gardeners towards the northern end of its range. Cutting grown.