Wintercreeper
Euonymus fortunei
Typical growth on an old wall, with vertical wire rope system 1010 for support
Wintercreeper on two wire ropes
Light-green new shoot in spring alongside old winter foliage
Pruning encourages branching
Brown-red winter colouring of Euonymus fortunei “Coloratus”
The rather weak growth habit makes Wintercreeper an ideal alternative to replace the English Ivy for greening a wall, to prevent building damages .
Requirements
Sunny (full sun) to semi-shaded Position, with sufficient soil moisture into late autumn and winter, no compacted soil! Almost as frost resistant as English Ivy.
Growth and Leaves
A self-clinging climber or "sticker," predominantly a ground cover, with two species among others being of particular interest for façade greening: “E.f. radicans,” a strong climber with excellent adhesive aerial roots, and “E.f. coloratus” (or colorata) for its brown-red winter colouring. The latter is a less vigorous climber, but can attach itself easily onto walls, tree trunks etc. Generally, single long shoots develop from a basically shrubby form, and will branch better with pruning. Leathery, evergreen leaves. Grows into joints, nooks and crannies!
Flower and Fruit
Inconspicuous flowers in late summer until autumn, but only on old specimens and in full sun. Fruit lasts sometimes well into winter.
Growth Support Systems
Support systems support plant growth. For suitable rope systems refer below. Light and Medium, better Heavy Duty Growth Support Systems.
Pruning
Pruning in spring or summer encourages branching and foliage density.
Wintercreepers in small planting areas contained within a hard surface, greening an old church ruin
Potsdam/Brandenburg: Wintercreeper along the house of cultivator Karl Foerster
Wintercreeper as future protection from graffiti
Evergreen garland of Euonymus on a balcony
Inconspicuous single flowers
..and fruit
At times – for example with lack of water – autumn colouring with subsequent defoliation may occur
Here a shoot hooked into a joint and climbed 8 m. |
Detail, see above |
A lighter, variegated form |
Euonymus on fan-shaped support system made of flexible cables, on insulation. |
Wintercreeper planted along the base of a wheelchair ramp |
