"Silver Queen"
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| Scientific Name: | Euonymus fortunei (Turcz.) Hand.-Mazz. cultivar Variegatus. |
| Author: | P. K. N. S. Turczaninow (1796-1864), Heinrich Handel-Mazzetti (1882 - 1940) |
| Common Name: | Silver Queen |
| Plant Family: | CELASTRACEAE |
Our only specimen enjoys full sun and a well-drained site just below ‘The Residence’ in Bed R143. It seems to appreciate the rich, acid soil, 1580mm annual rainfall and the cool weather that comes with life at 1000m asl.
Known as Euonymus fortunei cultivar Variegatus or cultivar Silver Queen, this excellent, compact foliage shrub maintains a covering of creamy leaves throughout the year and develops pink tinges in Winter. Cultivation of this form may date back to the 1880’s.
Planted in1984, a 20th birthday is not far off for our featured plant. A light trim once a year at Summer’s end is all it requires to maintain its form.
As a comparison we have three plants of the very patriotic Euonymus fortunei cv. Emerald and Gold down-slope of ‘Silver Queen’ and two more just below the stone-flagged path leading out of the Residence Garden and towards the Rock Garden.
The first of our Spring bulbs can be enjoyed as you leave the Residence Garden by this route. And, a walk back up the stone-chip path toward the Conifer Cultivar beds will bring you through the fragrance of Chimonanthus yunnanensis.
Jan Allen
Garden Information Officer