White that stays crisp
The broad margin remains throughout the year and brightens the dark green surface.
Euonymus japonicus ‘White Spire’® 19cm
Normal price
€12,00
What does the legal guarantee mean for plants?
The legal guarantee concerns the plant’s conformity at delivery. It is not a guarantee of survival or growth for two years. Each issue is assessed taking into account the nature of the plant, its care and the conditions in which it is kept. Your statutory rights remain unaffected.
Euonymus japonicus ‘White Spire’®
- Broad white leaf margin
- Stable variegation
- Compact upright growth
- Bronze Plantarium 2018
Euonymus japonicus ‘White Spire’® adds a clean white brushstroke wherever the garden needs light and elegance. Its small glossy leaves combine green and grey-green tones with a broad creamy-white margin, building a dense, luminous column. That contrast keeps its interest through every season. Placed beside dark foliage or a simple pot, it brings out both its own fine detail and the character of the whole planting around it.
The upright growth adds a clear vertical line among plants that spread or form low tufts. Repeated along the front of a border, it brings cohesion; in a mixed pot, it provides a permanent centre around which seasonal flowers can change. The white margin combines naturally with silver, burgundy and deep green foliage.
Plantarium 2018 — Bronze award — ‘White Spire’ was recognised for its upright habit, stable variegation and distinctive ornamental value.
What makes it special
It was selected for a clean white edge, uniformity and upright behaviour.
Narrow architecture
Upright growth adds vertical emphasis without taking the width of a relaxed shrub.
A stable selection
Its white variegation is valued for uniformity and stability.
Why you will love it: it creates a luminous vertical accent wherever every centimetre of space matters.
In the garden & on the balconyPlacement & plant combinationsFor narrow borders, small gardens and containers in sun to bright partial shade.
A vertical white accent in limited width
Repeat it along a path, use it as a small low hedge, or make it the upright centre of a mixed pot. The white edge looks especially clear against a dark background.
In a line, allow crowns to approach gradually rather than compressing them from the start. Air around the foliage reduces problems during damp periods.
Combinations that work
White and green combine with burgundy, clean blue and silver. Companions should share free-draining soil, sun to partial shade and moderate watering.
- Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ — creates a low near-black base that sharpens the white margin in partial shade
- Nepeta × faassenii ‘Walker’s Low’ — adds soft grey-green foliage and blue flowers to a bright, free-draining front layer
- Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Little Bunny’ — brings fine movement and low flower plumes without hiding the upright crown
Care at a glance
Light
Sun to partial shade; in extreme heat, protect from strong afternoon sun.
Watering
Moderate watering when the surface dries, with free drainage.
Climate & hardiness
Hardy to approximately −15°C when established in freely draining soil.
Safety
Harmful if eaten and not intended for edible use.
Detailed careComplete care guideLight for clean variegation, drainage, moderate water, light feeding, summer pruning and reversion control.
Light
Abundant light keeps the crown dense. In hot climates, afternoon shade protects white sections from scorch.
Watering
Water deeply as the upper soil dries. In a pot, allow all excess to drain away.
Soil
It accepts different soil types as long as they drain. Do not bury the root collar deeply.
Feeding
One light balanced application in spring is enough. Excess can loosen the upright habit.
Pruning
If needed, shape during summer with small cuts. Do not repeatedly top it if vertical growth is wanted.
Reversions
Remove any fully green shoot from its base, as it may grow more strongly than the variegated portion.
Development over timeHow the characteristic white column developsThe vertical line strengthens with age while variegation remains the main display.
Root establishment
Keep moisture even in the first year so roots can extend before fast top growth is expected.
Vertical shoots
Fresh upright stems fill the narrow crown and carry the cleanest new white edges.
Mature use
With minimal shaping it becomes a compact vertical element; grouped plants form a bright continuous line.
Mature habit & dimensions
In the groundHeight about 0.4 mSpread 0.2–0.4 mCompact upright column
Several nearly vertical shoots arise from the base. Small elliptic leaves in opposite pairs make a dense, narrow crown.
Form through time
Two seasonal statesEvergreen foliage
Fresh spring leavesUpright shoots extend with small, pale new pairs of leaves.
Settled mature foliageThe leaves develop deeper green centres with creamy-white margins.
White variegation remains throughout the year. Paler young tips stand out in spring, while the deeper green of mature leaves becomes more prominent later.
What to expect after planting: a steady increase in height and density without losing the limited horizontal footprint.
History & originCultivar originA white-variegated branch spotted by Theo Wouters in the Netherlands became a distinctive evergreen column.
In August 2012, at his nursery in Sint-Oedenrode in the Netherlands, Theo Wouters noticed an unusual branch on Euonymus ‘Green Spire’. Within the green foliage, this branch had developed white variegation through a natural mutation. The parent’s upright habit was now combined with a much brighter leaf.
Propagation by softwood cuttings began at the same nursery in October that year. Successive generations and trials confirmed that the variegation and dense, columnar growth repeated reliably. The selection was named ‘White Spire’.
European protection EU 49713 and a bronze award at Plantarium followed in 2018, with Plantipp presenting the selection. US Plant Patent 31,872 was granted on 16 June 2020, naming Theo Wouters as inventor and Green Beheer B.V. as assignee. Today’s green-and-white column began with just one different branch.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
Stable marginal variegation
The broad white border reflects a stable spatial arrangement of chlorophyll-bearing and chlorophyll-poor tissue within each leaf. Uniformity is judged across successive flushes because a sound clonal selection must repeat the pattern without erratic green reversions.
Opposite, decussate leaves
Leaves arise in opposite pairs and each successive pair rotates by about 90 degrees. This decussate phyllotaxis builds four repeating ranks along the shoot and visually reinforces the distribution of leaves around the shoot.
Frequently asked questions
Six practical answers about position, watering and long-term growth.
01Does it stay white in winter?
Yes, variegation remains year-round, although intensity changes with light and leaf age.
02Is it suitable for a narrow hedge?
Yes. The upright form suits restricted width, with room for air between crowns.
03When should it be pruned?
During summer if needed, using light cuts that preserve its vertical line.
04Can it tolerate frost?
It is hardy to about −15°C when established in free-draining soil.
05Why do the white edges scorch?
White tissue contains less chlorophyll and may suffer in extreme afternoon sun or sudden drought.
06What if it produces a green branch?
Remove it at its point of origin because it is usually stronger and may alter the variegated appearance.
📦 Your plant travels protected
Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.