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Euonymus plant species come in a range of shapes and types. Some of them are evergreen shrubs like Euonymus japonicus, shrubs that lose their leaves in the fall like Euonymus alatus, and evergreen vines like Euonymus fortunei this time of year. Whichever you have planted in your yard, you’ll need to find euonymus companion plants that complement them. Read on for some tips on what to plant with euonymus.
Plants that work well with euonymus are termed euonymus companion plants. They may look nice next to euonymus because of contrasting shape, texture, or color. The first step is to evaluate the euonymus plants growing in your garden. You can start looking for plants that go well with euonymus once you know what kind of plants you already have. Are they vines or shrubs? Do they lose their leaves in the winter or do they stay green all year? What color is the foliage? What do the flowers look like? Whatever euonymus species thrive in your yard are obviously a good fit for your climate. You’ll need to find euonymus companion plants that also grow well in your area. The U. S. Department of Agriculture has made figuring this out a little easier by developing a hardiness zone system. It divides the country into zones based on climate and winter temperatures. Find out what zone you live in and only think about plants that will grow well with euonymus that are native to that zone.
Euonymus emerald gaiety, also known by its botanical name Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’, is a popular evergreen shrub admired for its vibrant variegated foliage. With leaves edged in white and centers of grayish-green, this plant adds unique color and texture to gardens and landscapes. Though eye-catching on its own, euonymus emerald gaiety truly thrives when paired with complementary companion plants.
The key to finding ideal companion plants is choosing options that enhance the euonymus visually while having similar growth habits and care requirements. By selecting plants that thrive under the same conditions you can create a cohesive, low-maintenance planting. Here are some of the best companion plant choices to grow alongside euonymus emerald gaiety
Shade-Loving Companion Plants
Since euonymus emerald gaiety flourishes in partial to full shade, making shade-tolerant companions is key. Great choices include:
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Hostas With their wide range of leaf sizes, shapes, and colors, hostas are a go-to shade plant. Try ones with yellow, blue, or white-variegated leaves to complement the euonymus
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Ferns Delicate ferns like autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora) and Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum) add lush, graceful textures
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Heucheras: Also called coral bells, heucheras come in a rainbow of foliage colors like purple, chartreuse, and rose. They brighten up shady spots.
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Carex: The grass-like, clumping foliage of carex plants adds rich colors and fullness. Good evergreen choices include green-and-white variegated carex.
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Hellebores: Early blooming hellebores light up late winter and early spring before the euonymus leafs out fully. Try cultivars with purple, white, pink, or speckled blooms.
Full Sun Companion Plants
Though partial shade is ideal, euonymus emerald gaiety can tolerate full sun with adequate moisture. Companions that appreciate sun include:
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Russian sage: With airy lavender-blue flower spikes and silvery foliage, Russian sage pairs nicely with euonymus emerald gaiety.
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Yarrows: Yarrow flowers bloom in sunny shades like yellow, pink, red and white. Their fern-like, aromatic foliage provides texture contrast.
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Sedums: Succulent sedums like Autumn Joy thrive in full sun. They bloom late in the season, extending color into fall.
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Ornamental grasses: Grasses like maiden grass, moor grass and fountain grass sway gracefully in the sun and provide height.
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Coneflowers: Purple coneflowers, with their daisy-like flowers and dark centers, pop against the variegated euonymus foliage.
Complementary Color Companion Plants
Choosing companion plants with foliage or blooms in harmonious or contrasting colors to the euonymus emerald gaiety leaves deepens visual interest. Great options include:
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Coral bells in bronze or red shades like ‘Palace Purple’ and ‘Berry Time’ to contrast with green and white euonymus leaves.
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Yellow and gold foliage plants like golden creeping Jenny and yellow archangel to complement white euonymus edges.
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Purple and blue blooms from hyssop, iris, allium and salvia create a color pop against euonymus.
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Bright pink or red flowers like bee balm and coral bells cultivars for lively color contrast.
Textural Contrast Companion Plants
Adding plants with sharply different leaf shapes and growth habits than the broad, spreading euonymus emerald gaiety leaves gives dimensional contrast. Consider:
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Upright, strappy perennials like Siberian iris and astilbe for vertical contrast.
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Fine, grassy plants like hakone grass or Korean feather reed grass to contrast thick euonymus leaves.
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Feathery perennials such as artemisia or euphorbias for airy texture against the euonymus.
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Large-leaved plants like brunnera and rodgersia that contrast the smaller euonymus leaves.
Best Practices for Combining Companion Plants
When planning a euonymus emerald gaiety companion planting, keep these tips in mind:
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Select plants suited to the sunlight conditions to ensure all plants thrive
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Mix heights and growth forms for dimensional interest
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Combine foliage colors and textures for visual appeal
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Include early spring bloomers to precede euonymus and late season bloomers to extend color
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Mass plant in groups of 3, 5 or 7 for impact rather than single specimens
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Allow enough space between plants to accommodate growth to maturity
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Arrange taller plants towards the back and shorter, spreading plants near the front
With some thoughtful plant combinations, you can design a stunning garden display that makes euonymus emerald gaiety the star while surround it with complementary supporting players. Experiment with mixing colors, textures and forms to create your own perfect companion planting scheme.
Plants that Work Well with Euonymus
Pick plants that contrast with your euonymus shrubs or vines. For example, if your plants are mostly green and don’t have any berries, flowers, or other decorations, you might want to add some plants that add some color. Bright flowers are one way of achieving this contrast. Designers recommend underplanting evergreen shrubs with flowering bulbs to brighten up the garden in spring and summer. Another idea is to plant different types of euonymuses together to create that contrast. Consider Emerald n Gold euonymus. These lovely shrubs have variegated leaves with a hint of pink coloration during the cold season. Don’t forget that green foliage is not all the same color. Simply using shrubs in differing shades of green may provide sufficient contrast. You can also plant shrubs with contrasting shapes. Mix columns with mounding forms and pyramids with carpet forms. In general, plants that do well in your yard with euonymus are those that are not the same as your shrubs or vines. It’s the contrast that counts.
December Companion Plants – Wintercreeper Euonymus
FAQ
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