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FACT SHEET: CLIMBING EUONYMUS

Climbing Euonymus 

Euonymus fortunei (Turcs.) Hand.-Mazz. 

Staff-tree family (Celastraceae) 

NATIVE RANGE 

China 

DESCRIPTION 

Climbing euonymus, also known as wintercreeper, Emerald'n Gold, and 

Gaiety, is an evergreen, clinging vine. It can form a dense groundcover or 

shrub to 3 feet in height, or climb 40-70 foot high vertical surfaces with the aid 

of aerial roots. Dark green, shiny, egg-shaped leaves, from 1-2 1⁄2 inches long, 

with toothed margins and silvery veins, occur in pairs along the stems. Stems 

are narrow, minutely warty, and have abundant rootlets or trailing roots. 

Clusters of inconspicuous green-white flowers are produced on a long stalk from June to July and are followed in the 

autumn by pinkish to red capsules that split open to expose seeds adorned with a fleshy orange seed coat, or aril. 

ECOLOGICAL THREAT 

Traits that make climbing euonymus a desirable ornamental plant, such as its rapid growth, evergreen nature and 

tolerance of harsh conditions, also make euonymus a threat to natural areas. Climbing euonymus can outcompete native 

vegetation by depleting soil moisture and nutrients, blocking sunlight, and by forming a dense vegetative mat that impedes 

the growth of seedlings of native species. Vines on trees continue climbing and can eventually overtop them, covering the 

leaves and preventing photosynthesis. 

DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES 

Climbing euonymus is currently scattered throughout the eastern U.S. in 

populated areas. 

HABITAT IN THE UNITED STATES 

Climbing euonymus tolerates a variety of environmental conditions, including 

poor soils, full sun to dense shade, and a wide pH range. It does not do well in 

heavy wet soils. Natural forest openings resulting from wind throw, insect 

defoliation or fire are vulnerable to invasion and provide conditions for satellite 

populations of climbing euonymus to get started. 

BACKGROUND 

Climbing euonymus was introduced into the U.S. in 1907 as an ornamental ground cover. 

BIOLOGY & SPREAD 

Climbing euonymus spreads vegetatively with the help of lateral shoots produced along its long main branches and by 

new plants that emerge from rootlets also produced along the stem at short intervals. Vines climb rocks, trees, and other 

supporting structures. Flowers formed in the summer produce mature fruits by fall that are equipped with fleshy edible 

structures (arils) that are fed on by birds and other wildlife which disperse it. Climbing euonymus also escapes from 

neglected gardens and is carried by by water, to undisturbed forest and riparian areas. 

MANAGEMENT OPTIONS 

A variety of mechanical and chemical methods are available for management of climbing euonymus. Grubbing, a rather 

labor intensive method, is effective for small populations or environmentally sensitive areas where herbicides cannot be 

used. Using a pulaksi or similar digging tool, remove the entire plant, inlcluding all roots and runners. Juvenile plants can 

be hand-pulled when the soil is moist and root systems are small. Any portions of the root system remaining may 

resprout. All plant parts including stem fragments and mature fruits should be bagged and disposed of in a trash dumpster 

to prevent reestablishment. 
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Chemical 

Cut stem application 

Cut stem treatment, using systemic herbicides applied to freshly cut stems, is effective in areas where vines are well 

established on or around non-target plants, or where they have grown into tree canopies or other vertical surfaces. Cut 

the stem as close to the ground as possible and immediately apply a 25% solution of glyphosate (e.g., Roundup®) or 

triclopyr (e.g., Garlon®) and water to the cut stem. This procedure is effective at temperatures as low as 40° F. 

Subsequent foliar application of these herbicides may be required. Cutting without the application of herbicides is 

generally not recommended because this will lead to root sprouting. 

Foliar application 

Foliar applications of herbicide can be used to control large populations. It may be necessary to precede foliar sprays with 

cut stem treatments to reduce the risk of damage to non-target plants. Apply a 2% solution of glyphosate or triclopyr and 

water plus a 0.5% non-ionic surfactant to thoroughly wet all foliage but not so heavily that it drips off leaves where it may 

affect desirable plants. Glyphosate is a non-selective systemic (i.e., travels through the plant vessels) herbicide that may 

kill even partially sprayed plants. Triclopyr is selective to broad leaf species and is a better choice if desirable native 

grasses are present. Ambient air temperature should be above 65° F. 

USE PESTICIDES WISELY: Always read the entire pesticide label carefully, follow all mixing and application instructions and wear all 

recommended personal protective gear and clothing. Contact your state department of agriculture for any additional pesticide use 

requirements, restrictions or recommendations. 

NOTICE: mention of pesticide products on this page does not constitute endorsement of any material.

CONTACTS 

For more information on the management of climbing euonymus, please contact: 

• Kris Johnson, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, TN 

SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE PLANTS 

There are a variety of native creeping or climbing vines that make good alternatives for climbing euonymus. Some 

examples from the eastern U.S. include trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans), Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla), 

crossvine (Bignonia capreolata), trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), American bittersweet (Celastrus 

scandens), and American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens), our only native wisteria*. 

*NOTE: When purchasing or planting wisteria, make certain it is the native American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) and 

not exotic Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) or Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda), both of which are aggressive 

exotic invaders of natural areas and are difficult to control. 

OTHER LINKS 

• http://www.invasive.org/search/action.cfm?q=Euonymus%20fortunei

AUTHORS 

Tom Remaley, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, TN 

EDITOR 

Jil M. Swearingen, National Park Service, Washington, DC 

PHOTOGRAPHS 

Tom Remaley, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, TN 

REFERENCES 

Ahrens, J.F. 1979. Herbicides for ground cover plantings Vinca minor, Pachysandra terminalis, Hedera helix, Euonymus 

fortunei. Proceedings Annual Meeting of the Northeast Weed Science Society 33:256-261. 
20 May 2005 Page 3 of 3 

Plant Conservation Alliance®s Alien Plant Working Group 

Xeeds HoneXild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas 

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/

Carpenter, P.L. 1973. Chemical weed control in container-grown nursery stock (Cotoneaster divaricata, Euonymus 

fortunei). Hortsci. 8 (5):385-386. 

Corliss, C.D. 1981. Euonymus fortunei plant -- cormast variety mature leaves are dark green with light to medium yellow 

margins, dwarf growth habit, use as semi-prostrate ground cover, good disease and drought resistance. Plant 

Pat. U.S. Pat. Office, 4757, 2 pg. 2 plates. 

Gleason, H.A., A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. 2nd ed. 

The New York Botanical Garden. 910. 

Hancock, M.L.1972. Euonymus fortunei shrub (Patents). Plant Pat. U.S. Pat. Office, 3211, 1 pg. Plate. 

Johnson, A.G., G.P. Lumis. 1979. Chemical pruning of Euonymus fortunei 'Colorata' with dikegulac-sodium reduced shoot 

elongation, lateral branching. Horticultural Science 14(5):626-627. 

Mahoney, M.J., T.A. Tattar. 1980. Identification, etiology and control of Euonymus fortunei anthracnose caused by 

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Plant Disease 64(9):854-856. 

Petrides, G.A. 1958. A field guide to trees and shrubs. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Publishing Co, 70. 

Rehder, A. 1993. Manual of cultivated trees and shrubs. Vol. 1. Portland, OR: Dioscorides Press, 507. 

Swearingen, J. 2009. WeedUS Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States: Climbing Euonymus 

(Euonymus fortunei). http://www.invasive.org/weedus/subject.html?sub=3024. 

USDA, NRCS. 2009. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 

70874-4490 USA. 

Weller, S.C., J.B. Masiunas, P.L. Carpenter. 1984. Evaluation of oxyfluorfen formulations in container nursery crops 

[preemergence herbicide, for weed control, Contoneaster apiculatus, Euonymus fortunei, Juniperus horizonatilis]. 

Hortscience 19(2):222-224.