How to Grow Euonymus Indoors: Year-Round Care and Maintenance

Euonymus are a large group of deciduous and evergreen shrubs. A cultivated burning bush typically has only one member. While many of these shrubs are best grown outdoors, there are a few euonymus plants that can be grown indoors year-round as attractive, low-maintenance plants. What you should know about the best varieties to grow and how to keep them thriving in your home.

Warning:

Many species of euonymus are toxic to cats and dogs in large quantities. They contain alkaloids that can cause stomach upset, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Types of euonymus that can be grown as houseplants

When choosing a euonymus for your home, look for an evergreen species. Japanese spindle (E. japonicus) and golden euonymus (E. japonicus 'Aureo-marginatus') are common and widely available.

Japanese Spindle Plant

Also known as Japanese euonymus (E. japonicus), these evergreen shrubs are native to Japan and Korea. Outdoors, they can reach heights of 10-15 feet or more, but indoors, their size will be limited by the size of the pot. These tall, slender plants are easily kept in a compact form. Japanese euonymus plants also adapt well to large outdoor urns and planters, where they can be cut back to fill them out and create a regular-looking evergreen tree.

Golden Euonymus

This shrub is similar to Japanese euonymus, but with yellow leaves. It is hardy and responds well to pruning, making it a good candidate for a houseplant. The gold color on the leaves can be stunning and provides a nice touch of color to the seemingly endless sea of ​​green that comprises the rest of the low-maintenance houseplant category.

Indoor Euonymus Care Tips

Eumeus plants are generally easy to care for as houseplants and can tolerate a little neglect. They won’t be as fussy as a single leaf fig or orchid. Place your Euonymus in a sunny window, water it when the soil feels dry, and you’re almost ready, except for a little pruning to keep it compact for indoor spaces.

Light

Although they tolerate conditions from full sun to shade, Euonymus plants prefer bright, indirect light. In the northern United States, choose a spot near a sunny, south-facing window. Those who get intense winter sun may need to place the plant in an east-facing window. If your plant isn’t getting enough light, a grow light on a timer can help it stay strong and healthy.

Soil and Water

Eumeus will tolerate any type of soil as long as there is adequate drainage. As long as the drainage holes in the pot are working, standard potting soil will work for them when grown indoors. Fertilize twice a month when watering during the growing season, or use a slow-release fertilizer in the spring and again in midsummer. Fertilizing and watering can be reduced in the winter. Although the plant is evergreen, its growth slows as the day length decreases.

Choosing a Pot

Euonymus plants are available at garden centers and online in a variety of sizes, and you will need to match the container size to the plant. For starters, a 4-inch-tall euonymus in a 6-inch-diameter pot is fine. If it came in a plastic nursery pot, transplant it into a permanent pot about an inch larger in diameter and the same depth.

Make sure the new pot has drainage holes and a saucer at the bottom to catch any runoff. Any potting material will do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do deer eat euonymus plants?

Hopefully, this doesn’t happen when they are grown as houseplants! But if you put your Euonymus outside in the summer to enjoy the sun and fresh air, it’s a sure bet that it will get bitten by a passing deer. In many areas, euonymus is considered deer candy.

How often should you repot a container-grown euonymus?

Euonymus shrubs grow very quickly, even indoors if conditions are right. You’ll likely need to repot a healthy plant every year, or perhaps every other year. Choose a new pot that’s one size larger than the previous one — don’t go from a smaller pot to a larger one at a time.

Can euonymus be propagated by cuttings?

Absolutely. Japanese spindle and golden euonymus can be propagated by cuttings taken during the summer months. Dip the cuttings in a rooting hormone containing indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), place them in moist potting mix, and cover with a humidity dome. They should root in about 4-6 weeks.