The genus of euonymus unites several hundred species of evergreen and deciduous plants. Mostly these are shrubby forms, but there are also low trees among them. These representatives of the flora are distributed almost throughout the temperate and subtropical zones in the northern and southern hemispheres. They grow in the undergrowth of mixed or broad-leaved forests. Euonymus is an ornamental shrub, and many of its species are used in folk medicine.
The official name for the euonymus is Euonymus, which means “good” or “glorious” in Latin. In Russia, the plant is often called wolf bast. In its dense thickets forest predators usually hid.
Botanical Description
The spindle shoots are densely branched, covered with brown or greenish bark. In cross section, they are tetrahedral or rounded, with embossed growths in the form of elongated ridges or warts. The crowns are spreading, carved. The height of most species does not exceed 7 m. Dwarf rocks reach 1–1.5 m. The leaves of the euonymus are small, leathery, whole, narrowly elongated, ovate or rounded, with fine-toothed edges. In the summer they are green, and in the fall they take on pink, orange, bright purple, yellow or burgundy shades.
Nondescript flowers, small, collected in racemose inflorescences of 5-7 pieces. Corollas are brownish in color, with five petals and several stamens. In many species, flowers emit a sharp unpleasant odor. The fruits of the plant look much more spectacular. During the summer, these are ovaries in the form of clusters of dense four-lobed capsules, prickly or with small wings. Their surface is covered with thick greenish seedlings. By autumn, they ripen and open, becoming bright pink, scarlet, raspberry, purple. From a distance, the fruit brushes resemble dense, curly inflorescences that cover the entire crown of bushes with caps. Inside the boxes are dark red or black seeds.
Fruits, leaves and shoots of spindlewort contain potent alkaloids. When consumed by animals or humans, these compounds can cause intoxication.
Kinds
Varieties of euonymus differ in height and size of crowns, leaf shape, color of fruit "inflorescences."
Warty
Distributed in the temperate climate of Europe and Russia. This is an average height dense branched shrub with light green leaves of an ovoid shape. Shoots dotted with short dark brown growths. Occasionally there are small trees up to 7 m in height. Inflorescences of a warty euonymus hang on long peduncles, bloom in May. The seedlings are bright pink, the fruits ripen in September. Inside the boxes are dark gray seeds.
European
Outwardly resembles a warty appearance. It grows in Western Europe, the Caucasus, and the Crimea. Drought-tolerant shrubs with bright green foliage and nondescript brownish flowers. By autumn, the leaves acquire a pinkish tinge, the fruit is light red. Seeds of white, dark gray or black color ripen in October.
Dwarf
Another species whose homeland is the temperate climate zone of Europe. Low-growing shrub up to 1 m tall with vertically directed shoots. The leaves are narrow-lanceolate, 1 cm wide, about 4 cm long, bluish-green. By fall, they acquire a silver-violet color. Fruit boxes are yellowish.
Winged
Far Eastern shade-tolerant shrub up to 2 m tall. The branches are light green with rounded cork growths similar to wings. The fruits are bright, decorative, dark scarlet. Foliage by September from green becomes light red or burgundy.
Beresklet Semenova
The Central Asian includes several creeping and dwarf species. It has good winter hardiness. Petiole leaves are small, broad ovoid, yellowish. The seedlings are bright purple, the seeds ripen in late September.
Fortune
Creeping evergreen shrub native to the Far East. The height of adult plants reaches 50–70 cm, the branches are long, creeping. The leaves are elliptical, about 4 cm in size, with a bright yellow border. In winter, the plates become bright red. Fortune is a winter-hardy plant that tolerates a lack of moisture.
Japanese
Another name for the species is the pseudo-laurus. Far Eastern dense shrubs with a height of 0.5 to 6 m. Distributed in Japan, Korea, China. Leaves characteristic back ovoid or elliptical. This euonymus blooms in late May. Inflorescences are small greenish tassels. The plant is thermophilic, dies when the temperature drops to +4 ° C, has many decorative forms.
Application
Most species of euonymus are relatively unpretentious, resistant to adverse weather conditions, the scarcity of soils, smoky and polluted city air. These plants are great for landscaping, creating hedges.. Thick carved crowns with many bright fruit tassels hanging on branches and multicolored foliage against the background of uniform garden crops look contrasting and unusual. You can create both single and group landings. The euonymus looks great in combination with various types of ornamental conifers. The abundant foam of thick, bright seedlings, similar to flashlights or small hanging parachutes invariably attracts the eye. Colorful foliage gives the shrubs a touch of exoticism, making them unlike any other plant.
Evergreen dwarf forms of euonymus are grown at home, in greenhouses, on insulated loggias or balconies.
The roots of the warty and European species contain gutta-percha - a compound similar to natural rubber. It is used in radio engineering, in dentistry, in the chemical and shoe industries. Bark, leaves and fruits of euonymus are used for the manufacture of drugs effective in neurological and infectious diseases.
Healing properties
The euonymus is not included in the official pharmacopoeia; it is used only in alternative medicine. The most popular are European and warty species. The greenery, young shoots, roots and seeds of plants contain bioflavonoids, alkaloids, triacetin, carotenoids, terpene compounds, glycosides, polysaccharides, steroid molecules, fatty acids.
Eucalyptus tinctures are used for digestive disorders, neurosis, severe headaches, viral infections, weak immunity, loss of physical strength.
Growing
For growing euonymus spruce, flat and slightly elevated spacious areas are well suited, well-lit or placed in the partial shade of tall trees, blind hedges. Eucalyptus bears no extreme heat; under the influence of hot dry air, their leaves quickly wither, become stiff, and the fruits lose their bright color. Places for planting should be at a remote distance from the walls of buildings and other structures, as adult shrubs grow very widely. For creeping species, it is recommended to install vertical openwork lattices or supports. You can plant them near the porch or high curbs.
Soil for plants is preferred loose and neutral, slightly acidified or alkaline. The euonymus does not tolerate heavy clay or boggy soils. Sand should be added to this soil. Too acidic soil - dilute with lime.
For planting in a temperate climatic zone, it is better to choose a warty look and other frost-resistant rocks. Dwarf and creeping euonymos are well suited as indoor crops. They can be dropped into wide bulk containers. In the summer, such boxes are put out, and with the onset of cold weather they are brought into the house.
In the open ground, plant seedlings are placed in mid-April or September. Under the root system, deep holes are dug, on the bottom of which a thick drainage of broken brick or stones is laid. A layer of moist compost mixed with humus is placed on top. The seedling is placed in the hole, gently fall asleep with the earth, slightly tamping from above. Water immediately. So that the euonymus roots do not lose moisture, it is advisable to cover the soil around them with a layer of crushed tree bark or peat. This eliminates the need for frequent loosening.
Care
Waterlogging shrubs is not worth it. They need additional watering only in dry weather. Indoor varieties are watered twice a week, so that the soil is slightly moist. Drying of the soil should also not be allowed, it leads to early wilting of shoots, provokes an invasion of pests on plants.
Pruning shoots in the spring. Most types of euonymus can be given the desired shape. Based on the Japanese look and fortune, a bonsai culture is created.
Young container crops are transplanted every year - in February or March. Instances older than 5 years require a rarer transplant: 1 time in 3-4 years. So that the soil in the pots does not dry out, the surface can be laid out with moss.
It is advisable to select containers for planting not from plastic, but from wood or ceramic. They do not stagnate water.
Contain homemade euonymus on the west or northwest sides of the building. They should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Do not place crops near radiators.
It is not necessary to humidify the air in the rooms, but in hot weather it is recommended to spray the foliage with water from a spray bottle.
The optimum summer air temperature for the plant is + 18–22 ° C, + 10 ° C is enough in winter.
Fertilizers
A week after planting, the soil around the roots of the bushes should be watered with a liquid solution of cow manure or bird droppings. Repeat the procedure every month. It is useful to add leaf humus to the soil for indoor crops. Before flowering and fruit ripening, it is recommended to introduce any complex mineral compounds with phosphorus and potassium.
Diseases and Pests
The presence of a large number of parasites is the weak point of the euonymus. Scabies, spider mites, aphids, apple moths affect him. In this case, neighboring fruit crops may not have pests.
To protect shrubs from insects, wash with soapy water, a 15% solution of actellica, and garlic infusion. Treatment with insecticides is done 1 time per week. For prevention, it is enough to spray the crowns twice a month.
Breeding
Vegetative propagation methods of culture are used more often. By dividing the bush, old overgrown specimens are updated. In early June, they are dug up, cutting off part of the roots along with the shoots. The branches of the new plant are shortened by two-thirds and immediately planted, abundantly watered.
When grafting, edged material is taken: young shoots 7-10 cm long with several internodes. Places of cuts are treated with stimulants and planted in a hotbed with a mixture of garden soil and peat. After 1.5–2 months, the euonymus takes root. You can grow it in containers with soil, and next year take it to the garden.
The seed method of propagation is troublesome. Before planting, the material is stratified for 3-4 months at a temperature of +10 ° C, then kept at a temperature of +3 ° C for another 4 months. The seeds are placed in boxes with turf and leaf soil to a depth of 2 cm. The seedlings are thinned, watered, fertilized for 2 years, then planted separately.