Tom Thumb Euonymus

Tom Thumb euonymus is the dwarf evergreen to reach for when you want the look of clipped box in a smaller, slower package. Euonymus japonicus microphyllus 'Tom Thumb' holds at about 80cm tall and 60cm wide untrimmed, with tiny glossy leaves that take a hard edge cleanly. It grows slowly, which is the real advantage: a border cut in autumn still looks cut in spring.

Why you'll love it

• A crisp edge from a tiny leaf. The leaves are small enough that shears cut between them rather than through them, so there are no half leaves browning off along the face.
• Slow, so it stays where you put it. Two trims a year is plenty, and a low border holds its line between them.
• Coastal and cold both suit it. Salt tolerant and frost hardy, so it works from a beachfront courtyard to a cold tableland garden.
• Dry tolerant once away. After the first year it gets through dry spells without the wilting that soft leaved borders show.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Plant 30cm apart in a single row. At that spacing the plants close into an unbroken low border within two seasons and stay dense at the base.

Low hedging and formal patterns. The slow growth suits parterres, geometric beds and anywhere a shape has to hold for months rather than weeks.

Pots and small gardens. A single plant clips neatly into a cube or a ball, and its mature size means a 300mm pot is enough for years.

Growing Tom Thumb euonymus in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to light shade. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens and takes frost without protection. In hot inland gardens some afternoon shade keeps the foliage glossy.

Soil. Free draining soil of any reasonable type. On clay, plant on a slight mound and work compost through the bed first. Mulch 75mm deep and keep it off the stems.

Water and feed. Water deeply twice a week through the first summer, then weekly in dry spells. A controlled release fertiliser in early spring and again in late summer keeps the colour even along a border.

Pruning. Trim after the spring flush and again in late summer. It reshoots from older wood, so a border that has drifted out of line can be cut back hard and rebuilt rather than replaced.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in two sizes, a 140mm pack of ten and a 200mm pack of six. Both are multi packs, which matches how the plant is actually used: in runs rather than as single specimens. The 140mm plants are the value choice for a long border, and the 200mm plants start larger and close the row a season sooner.

Plants travel upright and are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect slow visible progress in the first season, which is normal for a plant of this growth rate, then steady thickening from the second year. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Choosing edging plants for a garden bed
• Compare hedging and border plants
• How to keep a clipped hedge sharp
• Plants suited to small gardens

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Thirty centimetres apart for a low clipped border. Closer spacing costs more plants without closing the row any faster, and it makes watering the middle of the run harder.

How tall will it get if I never trim it?

About 80cm tall and 60cm wide, and it takes several years to get there. Most gardeners hold it between 30cm and 50cm with two trims a year.

Is it safe around pets?

No. All parts of euonymus are toxic if eaten, so avoid it in runs and yards where a dog grazes on foliage.

Is it a good alternative to English box?

Yes, particularly in warm coastal gardens where box can struggle. The leaf is smaller, the growth is slower and it handles salt air better.