Euonymus Japonicus 'Green Rocket'
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Japanese Spindle Bush / Evergreen Spindle
Botanical Name: Euonymus japonicus ‘Green Rocket’
Family: Celastraceae
Origin: East Asia (Japan, China, Korea)
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub
Overview
A sleek, narrow, columnar euonymus tailor-made for South Australian hedges. ‘Green Rocket’ holds glossy deep-green foliage on upright stems and stays naturally tight with minimal clipping. Small greenish-white spring–summer flowers add subtle seasonal interest. Ideal for formal screens, boundary hedges, clipped columns and pots in coastal and Mediterranean climates.
Key Features
- Mature Size: 2–3 m H × 0.6–1.0 m W (kept smaller with clipping)
- Growth Rate: 30-60 cm per year under good conditions
- Foliage: Dense, glossy, deep-green leaves; naturally upright/fastigiate habit; clip-responsive
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Flowers: Small greenish-white clusters in late spring–summer; not showy
- Seasonal Interest: Evergreen structure year-round; fresh flushes in spring–summer
- Wildlife Value: Dense cover for small birds; flowers offer light pollinator interest
- Tolerance: Drought-tolerant (once established), heat-tolerant, wind-tolerant, second-line coastal-tolerant; frost hardy; clay-tolerant with improved drainage
- Planting Density: Hedges: plant 0.5–0.7 m apart for a tight screen; borders: 1 per metre (dense) or 1 per 1.5 m for a looser effect
- Pet Friendly: No — toxic if chewed (especially berries/leaves); supervise pets and children
Where It Works Best
- Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (best density in sun/light shade)
- Soil: Well-drained loam, sandy loam or improved clay; avoid waterlogging
- Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer; monthly in winter if dry
- Maintenance: Mulch in spring; tip-prune/clip 2–3×/yr to keep narrow; light balanced feed in early spring; monitor for scale/sooty mould in humid spots
- Lifespan: 20–40+ years
- Climate Zones: Suited to temperate and Mediterranean SA gardens, including coastal areas
- Soil pH: Acid, Neutral, Alkaline — adaptable
Landscape & Design Ideas
- Privacy screening and boundary hedges where space is tight
- Formal clipped columns flanking paths, gates and entries
- Formal clipped columns flanking paths, gates and entries
Why You Will Love It
A slimline, low-effort hedge that stays glossy and green year-round, shrugs off coastal wind and summer heat, and looks sharp with just a few clips — perfect for tidy, space-savvy screening in South Australian gardens.