Euonymus verrucosus
Family: Celastraceae
What it is like
Euonymus verrucosus is a deciduous Shrub growing to 2.5 m (8ft 2in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is 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): 2.5
Where it is found
Broad-leaved and coniferous forests, occasionally in swampy ground, usually by rivers and ravines.
E. Europe to W. Asia.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 0
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating:
The root contains 7 - 15% Gutta Percha, this is a non-elastic rubber that is used in making plastics and insulation for electricity wires etc.
Latex: A source of rubber.
How it is grown
Thriving in almost any soil, including chalk, it is particularly suited to dry shaded areas. Prefers a well-drained loamy soil. Plants are very cold-hardy, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°c. This species is cultivated in Russia for its Gutta Percha (see 'Uses notes' below). The Gutta Percha is produced most abundantly when the plants are grown in an open, more arid environment.
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 Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: 5-9
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.