The Japanese spindle tree (Euonymus japonicus) is a gorgeous broadleaf evergreen shrub gaining popularity in gardens for its vibrant foliage and easy care nature. Often called evergreen euonymus, this plant brings four-season interest with showy leaves, flowers, fruit and fall color If you are looking to add one of these beauties to your landscape, here is what to know about finding Japanese spindle trees for sale
A Brief Overview of Japanese Spindle Tree
Native to parts of Asia, the Japanese spindle tree is a dense, mounded shrub that typically matures to 6-10 feet tall and wide. It can grow taller but is easily kept shorter through pruning. The oval evergreen leaves emerge light green in spring before darkening to glossy deep green in summer. The fall show begins when the foliage transforms to purplish-red. Clusters of tiny greenish flowers in spring give way to pink capsules splitting open to reveal bright orange-red seeds attractive to birds.
This tough, adaptable shrub thrives in full sun to part shade and nearly any soil as long as it drains well. It needs little watering or maintenance once established. Japanese spindle tree makes a great foundation plant, mass planting, low hedge or accent in borders. It also works nicely in containers.
Where to Find Japanese Spindle Trees for Sale
As this handsome Euonymus has gained popularity, it has become widely available from garden centers, nurseries and online retailers Here are some top places to find Japanese spindle trees for sale
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Local independent nurseries – Check out small, local nurseries and family-owned garden centers in your area. These small businesses often carry more interesting plant selections than big box stores.
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National chains – Retailers like Home Depot, Lowe’s and Walmart stock a selection of common shrubs, including evergreen euonymus. Availability depends on location.
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Online mail-order nurseries – Reputable online sellers ship healthy, bare-root shrubs straight to your door. Try retailers like Nature Hills Nursery, Brighter Blooms and Fast Growing Trees.
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Garden catalogs – Traditional print garden catalogs from Jung Seed, Bluestone Perennials, White Flower Farm and others let you order Euonymus japonicus and have it delivered.
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Wholesale nurseries – These growers supply plants for retailers and may sell direct to homeowners. Check local options. Minimum orders and bulk pricing may apply.
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Specialty retailers – Some small plant shops focus on Japanese maples, conifers, bamboo and other specialty types. These unique retailers sometimes carry interesting Euonymus cultivars.
What to Look for When Buying
When shopping for your Japanese spindle tree, follow these tips to pick out a high-quality plant:
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Choose a shrub with dense, healthy foliage and no dead branches. Avoid plants with yellowing leaves.
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Look for a balanced, rounded shape rather than a sparse, leggy plant.
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Seek shrubs with an established root system and avoid pot-bound plants with excessive roots circling the container.
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Opt for a smaller plant that will establish more easily rather than a large overgrown shrub.
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Inspect for pests like spider mites, scale and signs of disease. Look under leaves.
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When buying online, read reviews and choose reputable retailers who guarantee live delivery.
Popular Cultivars to Shop For
Several Japanese spindle tree cultivars offer unique leaf colors, growth habits and other traits. Popular selections to look for include:
- ‘Aureomarginatus’ – Foliage edged in bright yellow
-‘Green Spire’ – Narrow upright habit perfect for hedging - ‘Microphyllus’ – Dainty leaves and mounding form
-‘Silver King’ – Leaves splashed with white variegation
-‘Sunspot’ – New leaves emerge pink before turning green
With its four-season appeal and easy upkeep, the Japanese spindle tree is a stellar addition to many landscapes. Keep an eye out for this shrub at your local nurseries next time you are shopping for new plants. Bringing one home is a sure way to spice up your garden with lasting color and texture.
HOW MUCH DOES A Japanese spindle COST?
At our nursery, a Japanese spindle costs $25 for a 5-gallon container and $75 for a 15-gallon container.
Prices are subject to change. Please contact us for the most up-to-date information on pricing. We may have larger sizes available. We provide installation services locally at a separate cost.
Japanese spindle Landscaping Tips
Japanese spindle is a versatile landscaping plant due to its dense leaves and branches and tolerance for pruning.
Easily pruned and trained to a hedge or border. Never prune more than a third of the plant at once, as this can damage it.
It is a good candidate as a decorative hedge in a formal garden.
Deeply water the trees, especially in the summer, so they can grow deep roots and soak up enough water.
It performs best if shaded from the afternoon sun in the Coachella Valley.
It may lose some variegation if given too much fertilizer.
Japanese spindle for sale at the nursery
Japanese spindle is native to forests in Japan and Korea.
Soil: Loamy soils are best, but not particularly fussy as long as it’s fast-draining. Provide fertilizer at the beginning of spring.
Temperature: Heat and cold tolerant. Can withstand temperatures down to 0º F.
Water: Regular watering during warm temperatures. Allow the soil to slightly dry out between waterings. Either use a moisture meter or stick your finger through the soil to gauge the moisture level. Requires less water once established.
Sun: Full sun. Partial shade is best in the Palm Springs area
Pests: Japanese spindle may attract pests such as aphids, mealybugs, and scale.
For aphids, blast them off with water if the infestation is light. Otherwise, use horticultural oil or soapy water.
Using insecticidal soap or rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab directly over the mealybug infestation is the best way to get rid of them.
To remove scales, pick them off or use horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. Horticultural oil will kill both crawlers and adults with direct contact. Insecticidal soap is better used to target only the crawlers.
When you use any kind of pesticide, keep in mind that if it gets too hot, it can hurt the plant.
Signs of overwatering: Root rot, yellowing leaves
Signs of too little water: Shriveling leaves, leaf drop
Signs of too much sun: Leaf burn, dry foliage, and leaf drop
Signs of too little sun: Weak stems, stunted growth, leggy growth
Propagate Japanese spindle with stem cuttings. Plant cuttings with a few leaves intact in moist soil, preferably in a humid environment. Once it grows taller, keep it staked until it is mature.
Golden Euonymus – moderate to fast growing evergreen shrub.
FAQ
How fast does Japanese spindle grow?
How big do Japanese spindle trees get?
Where is the best place to plant a spindle tree?
What is a Japanese spindle tree?
All prices include VAT. As trees are living and growing, on occasion the height may exceed the range indicated above. Japanese spindle is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to Japan, Korea and China.
How tall does a Japanese spindle grow?
As trees are living and growing, on occasion the height may exceed the range indicated above. Japanese spindle is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to Japan, Korea and China. Growing up to 8m (25ft) tall, though more often kept pruned as a shrub, it has a dense, bushy habit, the leaves oval and glossy with a finely serrated margin.
Is Japanese spindle a hedging plant?
Japanese spindle has been used extensively as an evergreen hedging plant especially by the seaside as it can cope with the salt air. It thrives in sun or shade, in well drained soil. EUONYMUS JAPONICUS – Japanese Spindle Characteristics Japanese spindle is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to Japan, Korea and China.
Is Euonymus japonicus a Japanese spindle?
Noted for its cheerful variegated foliage, Euonymus japonicus ‘Microphyllus Aureovariegatus’ (Japanese Spindle) is an upright, bushy, evergreen shrub with small, yellow-rimmed, deep-green leaves. A few tiny, inconspicuous, yellow flowers are produced in late spring and early summer, which are rarely followed by fruits.