Small trees to grow in pots

Euonymous alatus is a large, dense, spreading deciduous shrub with oval, green leaves, that turn spectacularly scarlet-red in autumn. Tiny, inconspicuous, greenish flowers bloom in spring and summer, and are followed by highly ornamental purple and red fruits in autumn and throughout the winter. Bare winter branches are attractive because of their “corky” wings.

Euonymous alatus can grow in a wide range of soils, but thrives in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. It prefers full sun and the best leaf colour is achieved in full sun, but tolerates partial shade and generally, pest-free. Attractive to birds.

It can withstand severe pruning, and has a tendency to be invasive. Euonymous alatus is a stunning shrub with beautiful fiery red autumn foliage, hence the name Burning Bush. It is perfect as a specimen plant, great for informal hedges and screens, wall-side borders, and shrub borders. Best-looking when planted against evergreens.

Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald 'n' Gaiety' is a versatile, evergreen shrub valued for its neat habit and decorative variegated foliage, making it an excellent choice for a wide range of garden settings. Its small, glossy green leaves are edged with creamy white margins that often develop soft pink tones during colder months, adding seasonal interest and colour throughout the year.

This compact plant typically grows to around 60–90 cm in height and spread, forming a dense mound that works well as low hedging, ground cover, or a structural feature in mixed borders. It is also ideal for containers, where its tidy growth habit provides year-round greenery for patios, terraces, and entrances.

Euonymus ‘Emerald ’n’ Gaiety’ is particularly valued for its adaptability. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and tolerates a wide range of soil types, provided they are reasonably well drained. Once established it is hardy, resilient, and able to cope with exposed positions, coastal conditions, and urban pollution.

Low maintenance and easy to shape, it responds well to pruning, allowing gardeners to maintain a compact form. Its reliable evergreen foliage and bright variegation make it a useful plant for structure, contrast, and year-round interest in gardens.

Euonymus japonicus 'Ovatus Aureus' is a medium-sized, bushy, upright, evergreen shrub with lovely, variegated foliage. Broad, oval, glossy leaves are light green when young and dark green when mature, with broad golden-yellow margins. Flowers are small, inconspicuous, greenish and bloom in summer. Sometimes, they are followed by pink fruit in autumn. Euonymus japonicus 'Ovatus Aureus' thrives in average, moist, well-drained soils, in full sun or partial shade, but is adaptable to various types of soils, except extremely wet. It is very tough and resilient, tolerant of heat, cold, salt, wind, and urban pollution. Low maintenance plant and easy to grow. Great for shady garden corners. This small, adaptable plant is a great addition to any garden – informal, cottage, urban, or coastal. It is perfect as a ground cover, for shrub borders and mixed borders, hedges and screens. It is easy to shape and can be formed into a nice topiary. Suitable for growing in containers.

Euonymus japonicus 'Bravo' is a medium-sized, dense, bushy, rounded, evergreen shrub with a lovely variegated foliage. Leathery, glossy, dark-green to gray-green leaves have irregular, cremy margins. Small, inconspicuous, greenish flowers bloom in summer and are occasionally followed by pink fruit in autumn.

Euonymus japonicus 'Bravo' can grow in various types of soil, but prefers average, moist, well-drained, fast-draining soils, in full sun or partial shade. It is very resilient and adaptable. It is tolerant of heat, cold, salt, wind, and urban pollution. Low maintenance, but all branches that turn all green should be pruned.

Euonymus japonicus 'Bravo', with its beautiful variegated foliage that creates nice shimmering effect, is a great addition to any garden – informal, cottage, urban, or coastal. It is perfect as a ground cover, for shrub borders and mixed borders, hedges and screens, banks and slopes. It is easy to shape and can be formed into a nice topiary. Suitable for growing in containers.

Euonymus japonicus ‘Green Rocket’ is a small, neat, compact, bushy, evergreen shrub of stiffly upright habit with small, oval, leathery, glossy, deep green leaves, lime green when young. Tiny, green flowers bloom in May and June and are sometimes followed by orange fruits in autumn. Euonymus japonicus ‘Green Rocket’ is a tough and reliable shrub. It can adapt to a wide range of soils, as long as they are moist and well-drained. It can grow in full sun, partial shade, and even full shade. It is resistant to heat, frost, and coastal conditions. No serious disease and pest problems. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require pruning. It can be trimmed into specific shapes, but generally has a good natural shape. Spindle 'Green Rocket' is an easy to grow, very adaptable, neat and compact plant, perfect for low hedges and screens. Great for mixed and shrub borders. Ideal for growing in containers and for topiaries.

Euonymus japonicus 'Green Spire' is a small, bushy, narrow evergreen shrub with upright branches densely covered with tough, leathery, ovate, glossy, dark green leaves and inconspicuous, greenish-white flowers blooming in spring, followed by pink fruits in autumn.

Euonymus japonicus 'Green Spire' is tolerant of a wide range of soils and soil conditions, but prefers slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils. It can grow in any location, from full sun to deep shade. Once established, drought-tolerant. Very resistant to frost, but still needs to be protected from harsh, winter winds. Not suitable for outdoor pots in colder areas. Relatively, pest-free and disease-free. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require pruning.

Spindle tree 'Green Spire' is a tough, dense shrub that requires minimal care and is perfect for shaping into hedges and screens for cottage, coastal, and urban gardens. Great as a ground cover, for beds and borders, and wall-side borders. Excellent for banks and slopes and growing in containers.

Euonymus japonicus 'Green Spire' is a small, bushy, narrow evergreen shrub with upright branches densely covered with tough, leathery, ovate, glossy, dark green leaves and inconspicuous, greenish-white flowers blooming in spring, followed by pink fruits in autumn. Euonymus japonicus 'Green Spire' is tolerant of a wide range of soils and soil conditions, but prefers slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils. It can grow in any location, from full sun to deep shade. Once established, drought-tolerant. Very resistant to frost, but still needs to be protected from harsh, winter winds. Not suitable for outdoor pots in colder areas. Relatively, pest-free and disease-free. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require pruning. Spindle tree 'Green Spire' is a tough, dense shrub that requires minimal care and is perfect for shaping into hedges and screens for cottage, coastal, and urban gardens. Great as a ground cover, for beds and borders, and wall-side borders. Excellent for banks and slopes and growing in containers.

Euonymus japonicus 'Himalaya' is a robust and versatile evergreen shrub, well suited to a wide range of garden situations. It forms a dense, bushy habit with glossy green leaves edged in creamy white, providing year-round structure and reliable colour. Its neat growth makes it particularly useful for formal hedging, boundary planting, or as a low-maintenance structural shrub in mixed borders.

This cultivar performs well in full sun to partial shade and is tolerant of coastal exposure, wind, and urban pollution, making it especially valuable for exposed or challenging sites. It prefers well-drained soil but is adaptable to most soil types, including chalk, clay, and sandy conditions, provided they are not waterlogged.

Once established, it is drought-tolerant and requires minimal care beyond occasional pruning to maintain shape and encourage dense growth. It responds well to clipping, making it suitable for both informal and clipped hedges.

As a cultivar of Euonymus japonicus, it is hardy in most parts of the UK, though it performs best in milder regions. Its combination of resilience, evergreen foliage, and adaptability makes it a dependable choice for low-maintenance gardens, coastal landscapes, and urban planting schemes.

Euonymus japonicus ‘Microphyllus Albovar’ is a charming, slow-growing evergreen shrub, valued for its neat form and attractive variegated foliage. Belonging to the box-leaf euonymus group, this cultivar is particularly compact, making it well-suited for small gardens, edging, or container planting. Its tiny, oval leaves are glossy green, edged with creamy-white margins that provide year-round interest and a refined, decorative effect. The dense, bushy growth habit allows it to be clipped into formal shapes or used as a low hedge, offering a reliable alternative to box (Buxus) in areas where box blight is problematic.

Typically reaching around 60–90 cm in height and width over time, ‘Microphyllus Albovar’ grows at a measured pace, requiring little maintenance beyond occasional trimming to maintain its shape. It is tolerant of a wide range of soil types, provided they are well-drained, and thrives in both full sun and partial shade. Hardy and versatile, it withstands coastal conditions and urban pollution, making it an excellent choice for town, courtyard, or seaside gardens. With its compact stature, glossy variegated foliage, and adaptability, Euonymus japonicus ‘Microphyllus Albovar’ adds elegance and structure to any planting scheme.

Euonymus japonicus 'Microphyllus', commonly referred to as Japanese spindle or microphyllus boxleaf euonymus, is a compact and versatile evergreen shrub renowned for its dense, small-leaved foliage and robust growth habit. This variety is particularly noted for its diminutive leaf size, which adds a fine texture to garden compositions. The leaves are leathery, glossy, and deep green, typically measuring about 1-2 cm in length. They are tightly packed along the stems, creating a lush, bushy appearance that is ideal for formal gardens or as a foundation planting.

Originating from East Asia, Euonymus japonicus 'Microphyllus' is widely appreciated for its adaptability and ease of maintenance. It thrives in a range of soil types, although it prefers well-drained, fertile soil. This shrub is also tolerant of salt, making it a suitable choice for coastal areas. It performs best in full sun to partial shade and can withstand moderate drought conditions once established.

The plant’s growth habit is upright and dense, typically reaching heights of about 2-3 feet, with a similar spread. This controlled growth makes it an excellent candidate for topiary or hedging. It can be easily shaped into various forms and is often used in borders or as a low, formal hedge.

Euonymus japonicus 'Microphyllus' is relatively pest and disease resistant, though it can be susceptible to scale insects and fungal diseases if conditions are poor. Regular monitoring and preventive maintenance can help ensure the plant remains healthy and attractive.

Euonymus japonicus 'Microphyllus', commonly referred to as Japanese spindle or microphyllus boxleaf euonymus, is a compact and versatile evergreen shrub renowned for its dense, small-leaved foliage and robust growth habit. This variety is particularly noted for its diminutive leaf size, which adds a fine texture to garden compositions. The leaves are leathery, glossy, and deep green, typically measuring about 1-2 cm in length. They are tightly packed along the stems, creating a lush, bushy appearance that is ideal for formal gardens or as a foundation planting.

Originating from East Asia, Euonymus japonicus 'Microphyllus' is widely appreciated for its adaptability and ease of maintenance. It thrives in a range of soil types, although it prefers well-drained, fertile soil. This shrub is also tolerant of salt, making it a suitable choice for coastal areas. It performs best in full sun to partial shade and can withstand moderate drought conditions once established.

The plant’s growth habit is upright and dense, typically reaching heights of about 2-3 feet, with a similar spread. This controlled growth makes it an excellent candidate for topiary or hedging. It can be easily shaped into various forms and is often used in borders or as a low, formal hedge.

Euonymus japonicus 'Microphyllus' is relatively pest and disease resistant, though it can be susceptible to scale insects and fungal diseases if conditions are poor. Regular monitoring and preventive maintenance can help ensure the plant remains healthy and attractive.