wintercreeper

Wintercreeper, or Euonymus fortunei, is an evergreen climbing plant in the family Celastraceae. Native to eastern Asia (China, Japan, Korea), it has been widely cultivated as an ornamental groundcover and climber and has naturalized in many regions outside its native range.

Description and growth habit: Wintercreeper forms a dense, evergreen mat when used as groundcover and climbs trees, shrubs, and structures using adventitious roots. Leaves are opposite, simple, and evergreen, typically 1.5–4 cm long, elliptic to ovate, with a glossy surface. Margins may be entire or finely serrate, and many cultivars display variegated patterns such as cream or silver edges. Flowers are small and yellow-green, appearing in spring. The fruit is a pink to red capsule that splits open to reveal orange arils.

Habitat and ecology: It tolerates a wide range of soils and tolerates shade, drought, and urban conditions. While valued in horticulture, wintercreeper can become invasive where it escapes cultivation, particularly in forests and woodlands, where it can smother ground vegetation, climb into trees, and alter native plant communities.

Cultivation and uses: Widely used as a low-maintenance ornamental groundcover in shade and a climbing plant on walls or trellises. Varieties include popular cultivars such as Emerald Gaiety, Coloratus, Moonshadow, and Silver Queen.

Management and control: In areas where it is invasive, control involves mechanical removal (taking care to remove root fragments), repeated pulling or mowing, and, when appropriate, the use of systemic herbicides. Pruned material should not be composted, and efforts should aim to prevent fruit set and cluster spread.