Euonymus fortunei (wintercreeper euonymus) is an invasive woody vine introduced from East Asia as an ornamental ground cover. It spreads vigorously by stems along the ground and climbing vertical surfaces, outcompeting native plants. Its dense growth can kill trees and shrubs. Effective control methods include repeated foliar spraying with glyphosate in fall, cutting stems and applying glyphosate to cuts, digging out roots, prescribed burns, and replacing with alternative native ground covers or vines.

1. Ef fective Control
Methods for Euonymus
for tunei
Anne Wamser
Litzsinger Road Ecology Center

2. Background/History
 Introduced in 1907 as an ornamental
ground cover
 Native to China, Japan, and Korea
 Mostly occurs in the southeastern states
 Still sold in nurseries

3. Life Cycle/Biology
 An evergreen woody
vine
 Grows as a climbing
vine or vining shrub
 Has thick waxy
foliage

4. How to Identify It
Leaf
 Opposite
 Evergreen
 Ovate shaped
 Finely toothed or
wavy edged
 Veined
 Purple underside

5. Flower and Fruit
 Flower
-inconspicuous
greenish white
-blooms midsummer
 Fruit
-capsule splits to
reveal orange fruit
-matures in fall

6. Habitat and Range
 Forests
 Urban areas

7. Detrimental Effects
 Climbing vines kill
shrubs and small
trees
 Forms a dense
groundcover
 Outcompetes native
vegetation

8. How it Spreads
 Vegetatively across
ground
 Climbs vertical
surfaces
 Birds and other
animals
 Water
 Resprouts

9. Effective Control
Methods
 Mechanical
-Pulled
-Dug up
 Chemical
-Foliar spray
-Cut and Paint
 Fire

10. Mechanical Removal
 Pulling vines by hand or digging up
 Remove all plant material
 Place in trash bags
 Do not place in compost piles

11. Foliar Spray Method
 Use 3% Glysophate with the surfactant
Cidekick
 Tradename Accord or Rodeo
 Spray two times in the fall (September –
October)
 Roundup can be used

12. Cut and Paint Method
 Cut and paint vines
 Important to remove vertical vines
 Use shoe polish bottles containing 25%
Glysophate

13. Fire
 Prescribed Burn
 Flame weeding

14. Alternative Plants
 Senecio obovatus –
Squaw-weed
 Senecio aureus –
Golden ragwort
 Parthenocissus
quinquefolia - Virginia
creeper
 Campsis radicans -
Trumpet vine
 Lonicera flava – Yellow
honeysuckle

16. References
 Kaufman, S. & W. 2007. Invasive Plants:
Guide to Identification and the Impacts and
Control of Common North American Species.
pp. 81-83.
 Solodar, John. 2005. “A Method for Control of
Euonymus fortunei Using Roundup Pro
(Glysophate).” Missouriensis. Vol. 26. St.
Louis, MO. pp. 1-7.
 Slagle, M. 2004. Euonymus fortunei research
field notes. Litzsinger Road Ecology Center.