Euonymus tingens
Family: Celastraceae
What it is like
Euonymus tingens is an evergreen Tree growing to 4.5 m (14ft 9in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is in leaf all year, in flower from May to June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
Height (m): 4.5
Where it is found
Forests, 2100 - 3300 metres from Himachel Pradesh to China and Burma.
E. Asia - Himalayas from the Sutlej to Nepal.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 0
Medicine
Rating: 1
The bark is purgative. The juice of the bark is used in the treatment of eye diseases and is also of benefit in cases of chronic constipation and dyspepsia.
Ophthalmic: Treats eye complaints.
Purgative: A drastic laxative causing a cleansing or watery evacuation of the bowels, usually with a griping pain.
Other
Rating:
The fruit is used as a cosmetic. A yellow dye is obtained from the bark of the old stems. Wood - fine grained, compact, hard. Used only as a fuel.
Cosmetic: Used to improve the physical appearence of a person.
Dye: Plants that provide dyes.
Fuel: Usually wood, plant materials that have been mentioned as being a good fuel.
Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.
How it is grown
Thriving in almost any soil, including chalk, it is particularly suited to dry shaded areas. Succeeds in light shade but fruits less well in such a position. Prefers a well-drained loamy soil. This species is not very hardy in Britain, though it may succeed outdoors in the milder areas of the country.
Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 3 months cold stratification, so should be sown as early in the year as possible in a cold frame. The seed can take 18 months to germinate. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 7cm long taken at a node or with a heel, July/August in a frame. Very easy.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;
Habit: Tree
Hardiness: 8-11
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Dry, moist
Things to keep in mind
Although no records of toxicity have been seen for this species, a number of plants in this genus are suspected of being poisonous and so some caution is advised.