Plant of the month September 2024: Euonymus alatus (Winged Pfaffenhütchen)

The beauty of autumn in the garden

With the end of the summer heat begins the time in which the garden is enveloped in a magnificent play of colors. Our plant of the month for September 2024, the winged priest's hat (Euonymus alatus), sets particularly impressive accents. This extraordinary shrub loves to make a grand entrance and is a must for anyone who has the courage to use color and wants to add autumnal splendor to their garden.

Description and growth: Shrub with charm and character

The winged Pfaffenhütchen, also known as the cork wing shrub, is a broadly spreading shrub that individually grows to 2 to 3 meters high and 2 to 4.5 meters wide. Its irregular, dense growth gives it a natural grace and makes it an attractive eye-catcher in any garden. The distinctive bark with the striking cork strips is an eye-catcher, especially in winter, and gives the shrub its characteristic name.

• Growth height: 2 - 4 meters
• Growth width: 2 - 4.5 meters
• Growth rate: 10 - 15 cm annual growth
• Habitus: Sprawling, wide, irregular and densely growing

Leaves and autumn colors: a firework of colors

The deciduous leaves of the cork wing bush are egg-shaped and reach a size of 3 to 5 cm. While they are richly dark green in summer, an impressive play of colors begins in September. The leaves turn bright shades of red, ranging from a strong pink to a dark red. This play of colors makes the shrub one of the most spectacular autumn shrubs.

• Leaf size: 3 - 5 cm, egg-shaped
• Leaf color:Dark green in summer, carmine red in autumn, bright pink to dark red

Flowers and fruit: subtle flowers, striking fruits

In May and June, the rather inconspicuous, green-yellow flowers of Euonymus alatus appear in small clusters. But the real attraction of the shrub is the fruits, which ripen from the beginning of September. Purple capsules develop from the flowers, which enclose a bright orange fruiting body. Although these fruits are inedible to humans, they serve as an important food source for birds, especially robins.

• Flowering time:May - June
• Flower color: Greenish-yellow, grape-shaped
• Fruits: Purple capsules with an orange fruiting body, very decorative
• Ripening time: From the beginning of September

Location and care: undemanding and adaptable

The winged Pfaffenhütchen is an extremely undemanding shrub that develops well in both sunny and partially shaded locations. The autumn colors are particularly intense in sunny places. The shrub prefers permeable, nutrient-rich soil and tolerates both dry and moist locations. Since its roots spread mainly in the topsoil, the soil around it should be worked carefully to avoid damage.

Pruning is usually not necessary as the shrub grows slowly. If pruning is still necessary, e.g. B. to create space for neighboring trees, the cork wing bush tolerates this well. It is important to remember that the fruits are formed mainly on biennial wood.

• Location: Sunny to partially shaded
• Soil: Permeable, nutrient-rich
• Water requirements: Medium, tolerates both dry and moist soils
• Frost hardiness: Climate zone 4, hardy down to -34 °C
• Care: Tolerable to cutting, bears fruit on 2-year-old wood

Uses and special properties: A shrub for many purposes

The Euonymus alatus is a popular tree not only because of its bright autumn colors. It is extremely versatile as a solitary plant, in the heather garden or as a bee pasture. Its eye-catching fruits and decorative bark make it an eye-catcher in every garden. The shrub is also resistant to urban climates and smoke, making it ideal for use in urban environments.

• Use: Solitaire, heather garden, bee pasture, urban greening
• Special properties: Fruit decoration, bright autumn colors, resistant to urban climates, tough to smoke

Ecological significance: Valuable contribution to biodiversity

The winged priest's hat is not only a visual enrichment for the garden, but also makes an important ecological contribution. The shrub's fruits are an important food source for birds and the flowers are a pasture for insects. In this way, the shrub contributes to the preservation of biodiversity and supports the local wildlife.

Euonymus alatus is an impressive shrub all year round. In summer it fascinates with its green leaves, in autumn with its spectacular play of colors and in winter with its striking bark. Its durability, adaptability and low maintenance make it the ideal choice for anyone looking to add color and texture to their garden.