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mattzone5wi

Unknown Broadleaf evergreen

6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago

I saw this shrub growing in Southern Wisconsin (Zone 5), and was wondering what it could be.





Comments (15)

  • 6 years ago

    Looks like a camellia to me. And you have some flower buds, too.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    The common one with this general appearance is Euonymus fortunei. Otherwise if for some reason not that particular one then still one of the evergreen Euonymus species.

  • 6 years ago

    Could it be American Holly?

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    I'm having trouble gauging the size of the leaves but I think this a Euonymus. Perhaps a cultivar of Euonymus japonicus. Or maybe a very congested and tightly tamed E fortunei.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Euonymus. Had the same species at house growing up -- leaves get a bit bronzy by early spring. Tiny greenish-yellow flowers in early summer that attract bees, flies & wasps.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Looks like one of the evergreen euonymus varieties (Euonymus fortunei), maybe 'Sarcoxie' or 'Greenlane'

  • 6 years ago

    Houzz must be crashing again -- I'm sure there would be other (unseen) responses, however, I'll throw in Camellia japonica.

  • 6 years ago

    Arbordave is correct.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Camellia crossed my mind at first glance but leaf arrangement says not. As does the snipped off twig just visible top right.


  • 6 years ago

    Plus OP is zone 5 Wisconsin. If camellias are hardy this far north I want one :)

  • 6 years ago

    Thank you for the help everyone!

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Euonymus fortunei -- common Wintercreeper. Starts to bronze in winter in the low teens, I think. Quite hardy for a broad-leafed evergreen! It is a climber.

  • 6 years ago

    As I mentioned in the other thread associated with this query, it is hard to judge scale from these photos but IMO, this is more likely to be another form of evergreen euonymus - like E. kiautschovicus - which is also hardy in that zone. Leaves seem uncommonly large for fortunei.

    Also E. fortunei only climbs if given a support. It is also grown in a rounded shrub form and as a groundcover.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Leaves of E. fortunei reach up to over 2 in. long, are prominently veined beneath - the veins being visible on the upper sides of the leaves of this example perhaps imply it has this feature. The juvenile stage is self-clinging. From the photo we can't tell if the specimen asked about is holding onto the brickwork or not. The shearing will also be helping it to retain a compact, rigid structure.

    E. kiautschovicus amounts to a looser growing version of E. japonicus, to which it is related. It is sufficiently similar visually to have been recommended as a substitute for E. japonicus in climates that are too cold for that species.

    The next step in a continued pursuance of this exercise would be to make in person comparisons of a representative clipped sample of the plant being asked about with known representatives of the two species suggested on this thread. Preferably in settings such as arboreta or botanic gardens where there is a reasonable - although certainly not guaranteed - of them being correctly labeled.