Purple Wintercreeper

Euonymus fortunei ‘Coloratus’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Groundcover

Height or Length at Maturity: 6-10″

Width at Maturity: 3′ +
Spacing: 18-24″ apart for mass plantings

Growth Habit / Form: Cascading, Dense, Spreading/Trailing

Growth Rate: Fast

Flower Color: NA
Flower Type: NA

Flower Size: NA
Flowering Period: NA

Fragrant Flowers: NA

Foliage Color: Dark Green, Burgundy-Purple in Winter!

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Sun Needs: Full Sun to Full Shade!

Water Needs: Average, very low when established

Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Drainage: Well Drained

Soil pH: 4.5 – 7.5

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual attention during winter

Resistances: Deer – more info, Disease, Drought, Dry Soil, Heat, Heavy Shade, Humidity, Insect

Description

If you’re looking for a fast growing, super-tough, versatile evergreen groundcover it might not get any better than Purple Wintercreeper Euonymus. You can throw anything at this plant; full sun or full shade, heat, humidity, drought or temporary flooding, and it still thrives. Deer, insects and other pests don’t like it, and we’ve seen no problems with disease. Purple Wintercreeper forms a dense evergreen carpet of deep green foliage that turns to an attractive burgundy-purple color during the cool season. The trailing stems root into soil as they spread making this plant an ideal erosion controller.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 8 to 10 inches tall with trailing stems that root in as they go, Purple Winter Creeper is an ideal choice as an erosion-controlling groundcover massed on sunny or shady embankments, hillsides and slopes. Because it thrives in full shade, it is perfect for growing under the dense canopies of large shade trees or decks or other overhead structures that block out sunlight. Similar to ivy, creeping fig and climbing hydrangeas, it will also cling to and climb walls that have porous surfaces. Unless you don’t mind frequent pruning to keep the plant in bounds, avoid planting in small, confined spaces. Also a nice accent in container gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 18 to 24 inches for mass plantings

Growing Preferences

Purple Wintercreeper is exceptionally easy to grow. It tolerates many soil types, including clay, but will fill a space faster if grown in a moist, well-drained soil of average fertility and porosity. It will tolerate temporary flooding but does not like constantly soggy or wet soil, and grows equally as well in full sun or full shade and everything between.

Note: Find more details and expert advice under the Planting & Care tab on this page.

Plant Long & Prosper!

Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff

Questions? Contact Us!

I typically get the vinca minor ground cover but it is always out of stock so I tried this purple winter creeper. It came very healthy looking and green. I’m anxious to see the purple color later in the season. I think I might prefer this variety over the vinca minor!——————————————————Thanks for the wonderful review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

The plants are great quality. Packaged very nicely and shipped in a day or two. They are thriving in our yard and look great. I liked them so much I ordered two more times.————————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

My order was received & I planted them two days later. They seem to be doing well. I’m anxious to see how quickly they grow & spread.——————————————–We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

Very impressed with these small plants. Pint pots very dense with well-rooted and well-leafed out plants. As always from Wilson Bros, plants came in excellent condition.————————————-Thanks for the great review! We are so glad you are pleased! Beth | WBG

Was new to planting groundcover and the website was very helpful in choosing the right plant for our hillside. I emailed 3 times to learn more to make sure I planted them properly and received prompt and courteous service. Plants arrived in very good condition and are doing well. Will definitely order more plants in the future. Thank you.————————————————-Thanks for the great review! We are so glad you are pleased! Beth | WBG

I have been trying to get purple wintercreeper established on a sloped bank for about 15 years. I have added plants each year but feel a bit frustrated that they are slow to cover the area. This spring, I ordered from Wilson Brothers. My plants arrived promptly and in green good shape. They were well established plants and they are now thriving on my sloped bank. I intend to order another flat. The price is better than buying locally and the plants much sturdier.————————————–Thanks for the great review! We are so glad you are pleased! Beth | WBG

This is a very generous flat of very healthy Wintercreeper ready to start forming a thick cover on a hard to cover bank. Great value, shipped thoughtfully and as always really quality plants!—————————WBG Reply: Hi Julie, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Purple Wintercreeper. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

Prompt delivery and plants were exactly as described! Redoing the backyard and these are going to be wonderful!———————————WBG Reply: Hi Rick, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Purple Wintercreeper. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

Plants received were very healthy and packaged extremely well. These plants have been in the ground just over 7 days and have started to grow. I will be ordering more soon. ———————– WBG Reply: Hi Richard – Thanks for your review of the Purple Wintercreeper and for the compliments. Glad to hear they’re growing well and hope you enjoy them for years to come. Let us know iof there’s ever anything else we can do for you. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens

We bought a rural fixer-upper home and a very neglected small acreage, from bushes to trees to overgrown ‘landscaping’ – it ALL needs some TLC. In my opinion, a tenacious, aggressive, weed-choking yet attractive ground cover was needed. And Wilson Brothers delivered!! When I received them, the plants were very healthy and once planted….you can almost see them ‘spreadin’ the love’ daily. Ordering more now! ——————– WBG Reply: Hi AJ – Thanks for your review of the Purple Winter creeper and glad to hear it’s “spreadin the love daily’ for you. This is probably one of if not the toughest groundcover plants in existence and it’s handsome too! Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can help you with. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens

My plants were extremely hardy and I will be buying other items. ———- WBG Reply: Hi Robert – Thanks for the compliment, and for taking the time to provide us and future visitors to Wilson Bros Gardens with your review. We have Purple Winter Creeper growing under large trees and decks in our gardens and can attest to how hardy this plant is in most any situation, except constantly soggy soil. Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can help you with. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens.