The deciduous Korean spindle tree has been looking quite sharp for the last month. Native to Japan and Korea, Euonymus oxyphyllus is a small tree, usually to only 8′ tall in cultivation, that brightens the fall garden with its showy fruit. Reportedly, it can reach 25′ with great age, but that certainly wouldn’t be in my lifetime. The specific epithet, “oxyphyllus” means sharp-tipped leaves. We grow this in the woodland garden, although it will tolerate a couple of hours of morning sun. Hardiness is Zone 6b-8b, and possibly much colder.
Is there a native version of this Hearts-a-Bustin’?? I have something very similar right at the edge of my back yard and the woods. I assume it’s native — it’s just always been there I ever since I bought my (Raleigh) home in 1988. I always thought it was Hearts-a-Bustin’, which I remembered from a Woody Plants class long ago. Only one I’ve ever seen anywhere. Hasn’t grow much. Hasn’t spread at all. About 6 feet tall. ???
Yes, our native heart’s-a-bustin is the common Euonymus americanus.
Thank you!
Mary
You guys should put this one into production, I haven’t seen it available anywhere.
We try to exercise a modicum of self control when it comes to offering woody plants, but the seed will most likely wind up in our Garden Member seed list soon.
About 20 years ago (or more) I bought a delightful spindle tree, Euonymus sachalinensis, species name refers to the giant island off the coast of Russia, Sakhalin Island (589 miles long x 6-106 miles wide), the species is also found in Japan, China, and Korea. Well established in cultivation, can also be found under synonym name of E. planipes. The dangling red fruits (seed pods) are highly ornamental, as are the orange flesh-covered seeds suspended on thin filaments under the open pods, seeds are enthusiastically gobbled up by birds, although some seeds are missed as I do get a modest amount of self sown seedlings.
Very hardy here is northern Massachusetts, my tree is about 12′ tall, almost as wide, leaves turn a subtle tawny orangish color in autumn. A choice small spindle tree.