Classified as a shrub or bush with upright-growing branches, Emerald Gaiety can be planted as a screen or informal hedge if kept trimmed. But it can also be grown as a vine or ground cover if you allow it to grow unchecked. As a ground cover, it is planted in mass and allowed to gradually take over a space through drooping branches that take root where they touch the ground. To grow it as a vine, you will need to provide support and be prepared to train the branches and tie them up with twine or tape. Emerald Gaiety belongs to the staff-tree family from China, making it a relative of bittersweet vines. Like bittersweet, it can be invasive in the eastern United States. Long stems easily root themselves where they touch the ground, so be on alert to remove these if you don’t want the shrub to spread.
Light
Variegated forms of euonymus such as Emerald Gaiety prefer part sun and part shade conditions.
Soil
This plant prefers average, well-drained soil that is somewhat on the alkaline side. It does not do well in wet soil.
Water
Euonymus plants need plenty of water as they are establishing, but once mature, they have a good tolerance for drought conditions. A brief rainfall or watering every few weeks is all that’s required for mature plants.
Temperature and Humidity
All forms of Euonymus fortunei have a good tolerance for all temperature and humidity variations found throughout their hardiness range. Ice can sometimes cause damage in winter, but the plants easily recover.
Fertilizer
Emerald Gaiety generally thrives without any feeding at all. In poor soils, a fall application of fertilizer over the root zone might help the plant’s vigor.
Types of Emerald Gaiety
Consider these cultivars of Euonymus fortunei which have many of the same virtues as Emerald Gaiety:
E. fortunei ‘Emerald ’n’ Gold’ grows 1 to 2 feet tall with a 2 to 4-foot spread; it has green leaves edged in yellow.Euonymus fortunei ‘Colorado’ is a pure groundcover, growing to only 9 inches tall with a spread of 1 to 2 feet. The solid green leaves turn purple in the fall.
Pruning
Remove stems that revert to all-green leaves. To shape this plant, do so immediately after the plant blooms in late spring.
Propagating Emerald Gaiety
Emerald Gaiety is easily propagated with semi-hardwood cuttings. Here’s how:
Overwintering
As an evergreen, this shrub holds some potential for visual interest in winter. But if you live in a region that can receive heavy snowfalls, you will want to train it to grow up a support, thus raising it above snow level.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Emerald Gaiety euonymus is a tough plant, and the main challenge is to control its spread. For example, the Missouri Botanical Garden recommends against using this plant in landscaping due to its invasive behavior in that region. To control the plant, remove offshoots that root themselves from branches that touch the ground, as well as shoots spreading out from the root ball. Euonymus plants are quite susceptible to scale insects. Treatment takes place only when the scale insect eggs hatch in April and May into first instar nymphs called crawlers. A second generation of crawlers is produced from late July through August. Spraying crawlers with neem oil (it is organic) can be effective in controlling scale insect infestations.
Common Problems with Emerald Gaiety
As with any variegated shrub, you will need to be on alert for reversion, or new branches with solid green leaves with no sign of variegation. These shoots should be pruned off as soon they appear. Otherwise, the entire plant can revert to all-green foliage and lose its distinctive creamy white variegation.
