Gold Thumb Euonymus

Gold Thumb Euonymus (Euonymus japonicus var. microphyllus 'Gold Thumb') is a compact evergreen shrub reaching about 60cm tall and 50cm wide, with small leaves edged in bright gold. It clips as neatly as box but holds its colour through winter, which is why it gets used where a low hedge needs to lift a dark corner. Slow, dense and undemanding, it tolerates drought, frost, poor soil and coastal salt.

Why you'll love it

• Gold that lasts all year. The variegation sits in the leaf margin rather than being seasonal colour, so the plant stays bright in July as well as January.
• It clips beautifully. Small leaves and tight internodes mean a sheared surface looks solid rather than chopped, which makes low hedging and topiary practical.
• Genuinely low growing. At roughly 60cm by 50cm it holds a knee height edge without constant cutting.
• Hard site tolerance. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, comfortable in poor soil and salt tolerant enough for coastal gardens.

Where it works best

Low hedging and edging. Plant 30cm apart in a single row. That spacing closes into a solid low wall in two to three seasons; wider spacing leaves gaps that never quite fill, because this plant is slow.

Topiary, pots and small gardens. Single plants take to balls, cones and low cubes, because cut surfaces heal into a smooth face rather than showing severed leaves. A pot 300mm or wider holds one for years.

Growing Gold Thumb Euonymus in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the strongest gold; in shade the variegation fades and growth loosens. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens and is frost hardy, so southern and tableland gardens are within range. The wet tropics are the exception, where humidity encourages mildew.

Soil. Well drained soil of almost any quality, including sandy and poor ground. On heavy clay raise the bed, because wet feet in winter is the usual cause of failure. Mulch 50mm deep, clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Water twice a week through the first summer, then weekly, then only in dry spells. A slow release complete fertiliser in early spring and again in late summer keeps the colour strong; underfed plants go dull.

Pruning. Trim in mid spring after the first flush and again in late summer. Start clipping from the year it goes in, because early trimming builds density at the base. It reshoots from old wood, so an overgrown plant can be cut hard.

One caution. Euonymus foliage and fruit are toxic to pets if eaten, so it is a poor choice for a bed where a dog chews plants.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in three sizes: tube stock, 140mm plants in packs of ten, and 200mm plants in packs of six. Tubes are small, often 10cm to 15cm, and suit a long edge where you can wait three seasons. The 200mm plants arrive already bushy, close to half mature height.

They travel well, though some leaf drop after transit is normal. Growth is deliberate, at roughly 10cm to 15cm a year, which is worth knowing before you buy tubes for a hedge. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to clip and maintain a sharp hedge
• Browse hedging plants
• Alternatives worth considering for a low hedge
• Plants suited to small gardens

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a low hedge?

Thirty centimetres apart in one row. Because it grows slowly, close spacing genuinely helps, and 30cm centres knit into a continuous edge in two to three seasons.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. The foliage and fruit are toxic to pets if chewed or swallowed. Choose a different edging plant if you have an animal that eats plants, or keep it to raised pots out of reach.

Will it keep its gold colour in shade?

Partly. It survives in part shade, but the gold margin washes out to pale green and the plant grows more openly.