Euonymus plants are available in many different forms, including bushes, climbing vines, groundcovers, and even small trees. Common types are evergreen, retaining their foliage throughout the winter. In addition to their attractive foliage, several types bear bright red or orange fruits that further enhance the plants' attractiveness. Euonymus plants rank 12th in popularity among the top 20 common ornamentals. Euonymus Scale Many types of euonymus are susceptible to a small insect pest commonly known as euonymus scale.
Scale insects attach their mouthparts permanently to plants and suck their juices.
When euonymus plants are infested with euonymus scale, their leaves change color. On heavily infested plants, thousands of mature female scales encrust the stems and reduce leaf production. White scale covers of immature males are also readily visible on the leaves. Without treatment, severe infestations of euonymus scale can kill all or part of the plant. In fact, because these scale attacks are so widespread and so difficult to control, this ornamental is declining in popularity.