Emerald Gaiety Wintercreeper is a variegated broadleaf evergreen shrub with dark green leaves edged in white that develop pink tinges in winter. Hardy in zones 5-9, it grows 2-4 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. Use it as groundcover or let it climb vertical surfaces for year-round color.

Emerald Gaiety Wintercreeper Euonymus

Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety'

Nature Hills Nursery

Variegated Deep Green and White Foliage Brightens Shady Spots Year-Round
Thrives in Zones 5-9
Grows 3-5 ft Tall, 3-6 ft Wide
Showy White Blooms in Late Spring
Ideal for Hedge in Shade Gardens

$18¹⁵

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Plant Size

Quart Container #2 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: This evergreen thrives in full sun to part shade, requiring at least 4 to 6 hours of light daily. While it handles shade well, more sun exposure will result in a much brighter and more distinct white variegation on the leaves.
Soil: It prefers moist, well-drained soil but is highly adaptable to various types. If you have heavy clay, mix in organic compost to improve drainage, as "wet feet" or standing water can lead to root rot.

Watering Requirements

For the first growing season, water your Emerald Gaiety two to three times per week to help the roots establish deep into the soil. Once mature, this plant is quite drought-tolerant, but inconsistent moisture during extreme heat can lead to dull foliage or leaf drop. A steady supply of water keeps the leaves turgid and the white edges crisp throughout the year.

Pruning Tips

Since this Euonymus blooms on new wood, the best time to prune is in early spring before the fresh growth begins. Think of this like a routine haircut to keep the plant from becoming "leggy" or wandering into areas of the garden where it isn't wanted. Regular shearing encourages a denser, more mounded habit and allows you to remove any branches that have reverted to solid green.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as the new buds begin to swell. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer or fall, as this encourages tender new growth that will likely be damaged by the first hard frost. A single application in the spring provides enough fuel for the plant to maintain its vibrant color all season long.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Cold hardy, Low Maintenance, Evergreen, Groundcover, Slopes/Erosion Control, Salt Tolerant, Container Friendly, Flowering, Attracts pollinators, Drought resistant, Deer-resistant
Hardiness Zone	5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Sunlight	Full sun, Partial shade
Height	3-5 ft
Width	3-6 ft
Watering Needs	Moderate
Preferred Soil	Clay, Loamy, Peaty, Sandy
Growth Rate	Moderate
Growth Habit	Bushy, Spreading, Upright
Blooms In	Spring
Flower Color	White
Foliage Color	Green
Pet Safety	Toxic to pets
Suitable Space	Indoors, Outdoors
Plant Name	Burning Bush
Botanical Name	Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety'
Species	fortunei
Cultivar	Emerald Gaiety
Class	Magnoliopsida
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, IN, KS, MD, MT, PR

Gone are the days of single-colored evergreen shrubs! Sometimes known as Wintercreeper, Emerald Gaiety Euonymus (Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety') is the perfect accent to the colorful perennials already decorating your garden! This elegant broadleaf evergreen brightens your landscape without needing any extra care or fuss!

One look at this shrub is all it takes to see why it's a winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit, given by the Royal Horticultural Society! The center of each leaf is a deep, dark green surrounded by white edges.

As the name implies, this shrub is sure to bring you no small amount of happiness! These leaves are stunning all year long but as winter approaches, they put on a special show and take on a lovely pink tinge. They're just getting ready for the most festive time of year!

Emerald Gaiety, which is native to China, Japan, and Korea, will grow densely into an erect mound. They become a showy work of art! Those glossy green leaves can be the backdrop for the petite white flowers in the summer, but quite honestly the foliage is the main attraction of this specimen! Your local pollinators will enjoy the tiny blooms regardless!

Hardy throughout USDA growing zones 5 to 9, holding its color in heat, sun, and humidity. Growing into 2-4 foot tall and 3-4 foot wide shrub that is usually grown as a groundcover type plant. But wherever the plant finds a vertical surface, it can attach to brick or rough surfaces and climb up. An incredible, fine textured, colorful, broadleaved evergreen! These Wintercreepers can be invasive in some states. Nature Hills has developed Plant Sentry™, our very own compliance software that will not allow the sale or shipment of any plant that your state has prohibited from being purchased and grown where it is restricted.

Planting and Application:

There are so many ways to incorporate this vivacious little shrub into your garden or landscape. You could plant one or two in your perennial garden. The variegated greens on Emerald Gaiety's leaves make wonderful accents to the bold colors of Roses and Peonies it may grow near.

Ring a tree or large shrub in these cheerful spreading shrubs as a bright fringe that finishes the look of the planting! Wonderful facer plants, hide the bare lower leggy stems of older shrubs and trees! Try adding a few to the sides of your house and take your foundation plantings to the next level!

Take a rather dull-looking fence segment, or a tired evergreen hedge and transform it into an eye-catching patio backdrop with a row of Emerald Gaiety planted at its base. Enclose a garden planting with a low hedge of trimmed or sheared Wintercreeper for year-round borders around your plantings to create a formal effect, working as a great alternative to sometimes troublesome shrubs!

These also work fantastic planted on inclines. Not only will it look beautiful, it'll also help with erosion control! Spreading and rambling, these Wintercreepers can form colonies that hold soil and transform a hard-to-mow hillside into a picturesque landscape feature in no time!

Even a container or planter with an Emerald Gaiety planted as its feature with a ring of spillers or small annuals becomes a stunning accent on a container garden, or in a balcony or patio area!

Stunning Variegated Green & White Leaves
Broadleaf Evergreen Shrubs Or Groundcover
Pinkish-Tinged Foliage in the Winter
Excellent for Foundation Planting, Prevents Soil Erosion & Containers
Garden Merit Award Winner

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Emerald Gaiety Euonymus is really quite easy to care for. They don't ask for much and aren't picky about when they like to be pruned. Simply plant them in full sun and some well-drained soil. Yes! Emerald Gaiety care is that simple! In fact, this shrub will even tolerate partial shade! Adding a 3-4 inch deep layer of mulch at the base helps keep moisture levels even. It seems the only thing that really upsets Emerald Gaiety is having wet feet in soggy soil!

You can prune your Emerald Gaiety shrub back whenever you'd like, but a spring pruning for shearing or to cut off winter dieback, and to whatever shape suits you best. It'll grow back better than ever. It's the epitome of low maintenance! Give shrubs in zone 5 a good anti-desiccant and a good drink in the fall to keep them from drying out throughout the winter.

Easy to Care For In Full Sun & Partial Shade
Well-Drained Soil
Moderate Moisture Needs
Prune In Spring
Deer Resistant

Adding this easy-to-grow shrub to your garden is a great way to add texture and character! Whether you choose to let it grow naturally across the ground or test your skills as a gardener and train it up a wall, Emerald Gaiety Wintercreeper Euonymus is the shrub for you! Order yours today from Nature Hills Nursery!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are euonymus deer resistant?

Emerald Gaiety Euonymus is generally deer resistant due to its somewhat bitter taste and tough evergreen foliage. While no plant is completely deer-proof, this hardy shrub (zones 5-9) is rarely browsed. For extra protection in high deer pressure areas, consider pairing with other deer-resistant plants or applying repellent spray during establishment.

What are signs or symptoms of wintercreeper presence?

Q: What are signs or symptoms of wintercreeper presence? Look for dense, low-growing evergreen mounds with distinctive white-edged leaves that turn pink in winter. These 2-4 foot shrubs may also climb vertical surfaces like brick walls or fences. Check your landscape regularly and remove any unwanted spread, especially since some states restrict this plant due to invasive tendencies.

What is this?

Emerald Gaiety Wintercreeper is a variegated broadleaf evergreen shrub with dark green leaves edged in white that develop pink tinges in winter. Hardy in zones 5-9, it grows 2-4 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. Use it as groundcover or let it climb vertical surfaces for year-round color.

When to prune wintercreeper?

Prune Emerald Gaiety Wintercreeper in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. This timing allows the plant to recover quickly and maintain its dense, mounded form. Trim lightly to shape or remove any winter-damaged foliage, keeping cuts just above healthy buds.

What planting zones is Emerald Gaiety Wintercreeper hardy in?

Emerald Gaiety Wintercreeper is hardy in USDA zones 5-9. This tough broadleaf evergreen holds its striking variegated color well in heat, sun, and humidity. Shop at Nature Hills for reliable specimens that will thrive in your climate zone.

How often should I water my newly planted Emerald Gaiety Wintercreeper?

Water newly planted Emerald Gaiety daily for the first week, then 2-3 times weekly for the first month. This hardy shrub (zones 5-9) establishes quickly with consistent moisture but avoid waterlogged soil. Check soil moisture by inserting your finger 2 inches deep before watering.

Emerald Gaiety Wintercreeper Euonymus

Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety'