Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Rosids: Fabids: Celastrales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/14/23):
Euonymus fortunei
FAMILY
Celastraceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
You may also want to check Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
Read more about Euonymus at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
INCLUDING
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Euonymus fortunei var. radicans
FAMILY
Celastraceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Euonymus fortunei
SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 12 (2016)
Euonymus fortunei
INCLUDED WITHIN Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2015)
Elaeodendron fortunei
INCLUDING Vascular flora of Illinois (Mohlenbrock, 2014)
Euonymus kiautschovicus
INCLUDING Floristic synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2010)
Euonymus hederaceus
INCLUDING Floristic Synthesis of North America (Kartesz, 1999)
Euonymus fortunei var. radicans
INCLUDING Floristic Synthesis of North America (Kartesz, 1999)
Euonymus kiautschovica
COMMON NAME:
Wintercreeper, Climbing Euonymus, Chinese Spindle-tree
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
)
JK Marlow jkm160103_132
January Greenville County SC
Swamp Rabbit Trail
)
Terry Holdsclaw tdh_euonymus_fortunei_1b
February Mecklenburg County NC
Dangling paired or single pinkish-to-red capsules split to reveal seed, per Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests (Miller, 2003).
)
JK Marlow jkm150407_121
April Greenville County SC
Swamp Rabbit Trail
)
JK Marlow jkm150516_065
May Greenville County SC
The vinelike habit enables access up tree trunks by aerial rootlets, per Woody Plants of the Southeastern US: A Winter Guide (Lance, 2004).
)
Terry Holdsclaw tdh_e_fortunei_6410
May Mecklenburg County NC
Axillary clusters of inconspicuous flowers at the ends of Y-shaped stems, per Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests (Miller, 2003).
)
Terry Holdsclaw tdh_e_fortunei_7025
June Mecklenburg County NC
This evergreen climbing shrub climbs up trees, rocks, and buildings, per Invasive Plants, Weeds of the Global Garden (Randall & Marinelli, 1996).
)
JK Marlow jkm140809_452
August Greenville County SC
Lake Conestee Nature Park
Wintercreeper spreads across the ground to form a dense groundcover, per Invasive Plants, Weeds of the Global Garden (Randall & Marinelli, 1996).
)
JK Marlow jkm130928_720
September Spartanburg County SC
Leaves broadly oval, moderately thick, with base tapering to petiole, per Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests (Miller, 2003).
)
JK Marlow jkm141031_502
October Greenville County SC
Lake Conestee Nature Park
)
JK Marlow jkm141031_523
October Greenville County SC
Swamp Rabbit Trail
Note non-flowering juvenile phase at tree base and flowering phase higher up.
)
JK Marlow jkm141031_526
October Greenville County SC
Swamp Rabbit Trail
The capsule is pale or light pink, the arils orange, per Woody Plants of the Southeastern US: A Winter Guide (Lance, 2004).
)
JK Marlow jkm141031_527
October Greenville County SC
Swamp Rabbit Trail
)
JK Marlow jkm141031_529
October Greenville County SC
Swamp Rabbit Trail
Flowers and fruit tend to form only on plants with the opportunity to climb, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).
)
JK Marlow jkm141031_533
October Greenville County SC
Swamp Rabbit Trail
)
JK Marlow jkm141031_535
October Greenville County SC
Swamp Rabbit Trail
)
JK Marlow jkm141031_546
October Greenville County SC
Swamp Rabbit Trail
)
JK Marlow jkm141031_548
October Greenville County SC
Swamp Rabbit Trail
Climbing vines reach 40-70' and can kill shrubs and small trees, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).
)
JK Marlow jkm161028_025
October Greenville County SC
Lake Conestee Nature Park
)
JK Marlow jkm161028_027
October Greenville County SC
Lake Conestee Nature Park
)
JK Marlow jkm161028_028
October Greenville County SC
Lake Conestee Nature Park
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/14/23):
Euonymus fortunei
FAMILY
Celastraceae
INCLUDING
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Euonymus fortunei var. radicans
FAMILY
Celastraceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Euonymus fortunei
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 12
Euonymus fortunei
INCLUDED WITHIN
Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2015)
Elaeodendron fortunei
INCLUDING
Vascular flora of Illinois (Mohlenbrock, 2014)
Euonymus kiautschovicus
INCLUDING
Floristic synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2010)
Euonymus hederaceus
INCLUDING
Floristic Synthesis of North America (Kartesz, 1999)
Euonymus fortunei var. radicans
INCLUDING
Floristic Synthesis of North America (Kartesz, 1999)
Euonymus kiautschovica
541
Woody vine
Perennial
Habitat: Bottomlands, swamps, upland suburban woodlands, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: China
Uncommon in Carolina Piedmont (rare elsewhere in GA-NC-SC)
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council, 2012
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2006
- Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2013
- NC Department of Transportation
- SC Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2014
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2009
- US Fish & Wildlife Service
- US Forest Service Southern Research Station
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 2014
LEAVES:
Deciduous or weakly evergreen
Simple
Opposite
FLOWER:
Spring/Summer
Greenish-white
Radially symmetrical
4-merous
4 petals
4 stamens
Superior ovary
Bisexual
Flowers in axillary clusters
FRUIT:
Fall
Pinkish/Red
Capsule
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007) p081
- A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests (Miller, Chambliss, & Lowenstein, 2010) p078
- Invasive Plants, Weeds of the Global Garden (Randall & Marinelli, 1996) p56
- Invasive Exotic Plants of North Carolina (Smith, 2008) p086
- Woody Plants of the Southeastern US: A Winter Guide (Lance, 2004) p136
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