Euonymus Fortunei Harlequin

Euonymus Fortunei  'Harlequin' , also known as Spindle Harlequin and Evergreen Bittersweet is a dwarf evergreen shrub with an unusual, speckled, white and green variegated leaves which sport an attractive pink edge in the autumn and winter. The Spindle Harlequin produces small flowers followed by colourful fruits. Its spreading habit is particularly useful for underplanting beneath trees or covering banks. It is a prostrate climber, with stems about 1.0 metre in length. It will grow in most well drained soil types and can offer a pretty foliage coloration along the soil, growing only to about 60 cm in height over the course of 5-10 years. It is a very low maintenance evergreen, and will grow across several shading Aspects from full sun to partial shade.  

The Evergreen Bittersweet is a product of the family Celastraceae and Genus Euonymus, which grow as either deciduous or evergreen shrubs or small trees, often with fine autumn colour, and small flowers followed by colourful fruits. The ‘Harlequin’ is known for its short stature, narrowly oblong leaves and its mottled colouration. It is best suited as a ground planting or as a low hedge where you’d like to see bushy, low growing shrubs with interesting, evergreen foliage.  From early to mid-summer, its greenish white flowers will emerge on the branching, older adult stems.  It has its origins in Eastern Asia, including China, Japan, and Korea.

Hardy to zone H5 in the UK and Ireland, it is not terribly picky on aspect, which in order of preference would be South,  North, West, and East facing. It tolerates exposure or does well in sheltered environments.  Euonymus Fortunei  'Harlequin' prefers soils that are well drained or moist but well-drained and textures from Chalk to Clay to Sand to Loam in order of preference. It prefers pH near neutral or slightly acid.