Euonymus japonicus is an East Asian native but very popular as hedge plant or shrub in France because it is easy, robust, and evergreen. It is also drought-resistant once established and hardy to -15℃.
We have two different kinds in the garden, that were already here when we moved in. One is a massive dark-green hedge along a high wall, 7 meters long, three meters high and two meters wide, and perpetually covered with white powdery mildew spots. The gardener just shrugged and said there was not much to be done about it, it was simply in the wrong place. I’ve since read that powdery mildew is a known plague for Euonymus japonicus and favored by shade and humid conditions with warm days and cool nights. The plant does not seem to suffer much from it, it’s not losing leaves, it’s not affecting other plants in the garden, and we’ve learned to simply overlook the white spots. The lovely honeysuckle growing through it is its saving grace.
The other Euonymus is a small plant and I think it may be the cultivar “Happiness” because of its small size (50 x 50 cm). However only one half it it has those brightly glowing golden-yellow leaves, the other is a variegated green and yellow. It grows in a sunny spot next to an olive tree and has no problem at all with heat or drought.
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