Winter Creeper

Biological Name:

Euonymus fortunei (Winter-Creeper)

Natural Habitat:

Winter-creeper is a plant native to eastern Asia. It can be found in woodlands and forests.

Description:

Winter-Creeper is a climbing vine that is native to Asia. It has small white or green flowers and opposite oval-shaped leaves. It is often used as a groundcover plant and can be invasive in some areas.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is wintercreeper invasive?
A: Winter creeper has been reported to be invasive in natural areas in most of the states in the eastern half of the U.S. It can tolerate a broad range of environmental conditions ranging from full sun to deep shade, and acidic to basic and low nutrient soils, but it does not grow well in heavy wet soils.
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Q: Does winter creeper grow fast?
A: Euonymus fortunei (Wintercreeper) is a fast-growing, evergreen shrub, vine, or groundcover of variable size. It can grow as a woody, clinging vine climbing to 40-70 ft.
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Q: How does winter creeper spread?
A: Wintercreeper seeds are spread by birds, which eat the fruit. Once established in a location, wintercreeper plants spread vegetatively both horizontally and vertically. It creeps across land, establishing new roots where stems touch the ground.
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Q: What is wintercreeper used for?
A: Wintercreeper can be used as a ground cover, as erosion control, or even as a living fence material. Its vines will easily climb up to create a green roof on a pergola, and it’s surprisingly easy to care for.
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Q: Is winter creeper a good ground cover?
A: Winter creeper is a versatile plant. It can be trained into an attractive low growing ground cover, mounded shrub or a vertical vine. It’s semi-evergreen so winter creeper is a good choice to cover a low wall, structure or unsightly object.
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Q: Is wintercreeper fast growing?
A: Euonymus fortunei (Wintercreeper) is a fast-growing, evergreen shrub, vine, or groundcover of variable size. It can grow as a woody, clinging vine climbing to 40-70 ft.
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Q: Is Wintercreeper euonymus poisonous to dogs?
A: Euonymus, also known as Burning Bush, is poisonous to dogs. The plant contains alkaloids that can cause an upset stomach if a dog eats any part of the plant. The plant is only considered toxic in large quantities, but it is best practice to keep pets, especially small puppies, away from Euonymus.
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Q: How do I stop my wintercreeper from spreading?
A: 3:427:23If it’s a small area oftentimes we can pull individual plants to pull up the entire plant includingMoreIf it’s a small area oftentimes we can pull individual plants to pull up the entire plant including the root system if hand pulling isn’t necessarily an option because it’s so widespread cutting mayInvasive Plants: Wintercreeper – YouTubewww.youtube.com › watchwww.youtube.com › watch
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Q: How tall does winter creeper get?
A: Wintercreeper grows about 2 feet tall and can spread 4 feet wide so works well in hard-to-plant locations along driveways, sidewalks, or on hillsides. Plus, the plant grows equally well in sun or partial shade. Hardy from zones 5-8.
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Q: How tall does wintercreeper get?
A: Zones 4-9, part sun/shade, 24″ tall x 24″ wide at maturity.”
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Q: How do I get rid of wintercreeper?
A: Pull gently and slowly. If you leave any roots intact, they will regrow. Pulling is most effective when the ground is damp. Pick up the pulled vines and destroy them by composting or chipping.
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Q: Is wintercreeper a shrub or ground cover?
A: Euonymus fortunei (Wintercreeper) is a fast-growing, evergreen shrub, vine, or groundcover of variable size. It can grow as a woody, clinging vine climbing to 40-70 ft. (12-21 m) with the support of aerial roots, or it can form a dense groundcover or low shrub. The foliage is variable in color and size.
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Q: Is winter creeper poisonous?
A: Toxic if eaten in large quantities. Can cause vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, chills, coma, and convulsions.
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Q: Is wintercreeper toxic to cats?
A: This perennial shrub is not likely to entice cats, but it is still potentially dangerous for felines. The berries are generally only considered a problem if consumed in large quantities, but be aware if you have a Wintercreeper or Burning Bush in your yard or neighborhood.
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Q: Can you cut back wintercreeper?
A: Pruning can be done either to control the spread of the plant or to keep it in a desired shape—such as to keep it in a mounded shape rather than allowing it to spread as a ground cover. Major pruning should be done after flowering is complete to remove all the spent flowers before they go to seed.
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Q: How big do winter creepers get?
A: Growth habit. Winter creeper can be 4-12 inches tall as a groundcover or as high as 70′ as a climbing vine. These plants can also grow in the form of mounding, woody shrubs.
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Q: How fast do wintercreeper grow?
A: This shrub does grow small white and green flowers, but it is most appreciated for its striking foliage. How fast does Emerald Gaiety grow? This wintercreeper grows about 4 inches per year.
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Q: Is wintercreeper an evergreen?
A: Wintercreeper, Chinese Spindle Tree, Climbing Euonymus, Gaiety, Winter Creeper. Euonymus fortunei (Wintercreeper) is a fast-growing, evergreen shrub, vine, or groundcover of variable size.
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Q: Is wintercreeper poisonous to humans?
A: There are no records of toxicity for this species of Euonymus; however, a number of plants in this genus are poisonous and caution is advised. Avoid eating any parts of this plant in large quantities. The berries in particular should not be eaten by humans.
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Q: Is wintercreeper a good ground cover?
A: Wintercreeper euonymus is a versatile plant that can serve as ground cover for both sunny and shady areas, as an edging plant along paths, as a slope cover, as a foundation planting, or trained to climb like an ivy to cover walls, chimneys, or fences.
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Q: How tall does wintercreeper grow?
A: Wintercreeper can climb up to 40 feet as a juvenile plant if it has support. However, it generally stops creeping once it reaches full maturity. It will spread out as ground cover, or it can be kept trimmed as a shrub about 2 feet tall.
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Q: How does the wintercreeper spread?
A: Wintercreeper seeds are spread by birds, which eat the fruit. Once established in a location, wintercreeper plants spread vegetatively both horizontally and vertically. It creeps across land, establishing new roots where stems touch the ground.
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Q: Where should I plant a wintercreeper?
A: Wintercreeper can be planted in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 9 and will do well in full sun or partial shade. Space plants 18 to 24 inches (46-61 cm.) apart in spring once the ground can be worked.
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Q: How fast does wintercreeper spread?
A: Form. Once planted, purple wintercreeper spreads quickly, and typically grows 6 inches to 2 feet tall with a spread of 1 to 4 feet.
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About the author

Samuel is a gardening professional and enthusiast who has spent over 20 years advising homeowners and farm owners on weed identification, prevention and removal. He has an undergraduate degree in plant and soil science from Michigan State University.