Plant Profile: Euonymus fortunei 'Silver Queen'

This plant is recognized as one of the smaller evergreen shrubs within the Euonymus genus, which encompasses a variety of plants sharing similar traits. Its height is reported by different sources to range between 2 and 8 feet. It has a tendency to spread easily and can serve as an effective shrubby ground cover. Full maturity may take anywhere from 5 to 10 years.

The shrub produces small, pale green flowers that attract bees, and its most notable feature is its striking fall foliage. The flowers give way to berries that are consumed by birds, which then disperse the seeds into woodland areas, potentially leading to the growth of new shrubs that can disrupt native plant ecosystems. Once established, these shrubs can be quite challenging to remove.

Additionally, deer are fond of this plant. To mitigate its spread, it can be beneficial to plant it in shadier locations, as this can limit the number of flowers and subsequent seeds, thereby reducing bird dispersal. The foliage remains the primary draw of this shrub.

It is important to note that this plant can be toxic if consumed in large quantities.

**LEGACY**

**Description:** This shrub can be either deciduous or evergreen, featuring opposite, simple leaves. Its flowers are small, with four parts, and exhibit a greenish maroon hue. The fruit is a capsule that ranges in color from reddish-pink to ivory or yellow, splitting open to reveal orange-red seeds.

**Height:** 2 ft.

**Zones:** 5 to 8

**Habit:** Evergreen

**Site:** Prefers sun to light shade and well-drained soil.

**Habitat:** Commonly found in forests or natural areas within mixed deciduous forests and low woodlands; it can also be weedy in disturbed regions around homes and buildings.

**Width:** 2 ft.

**Tags:** Evergreen

For further details, refer to information on Euonymus fortunei.