I recently bought a Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald 'n Gold' from eBay, but it doesn't seem to have the gold coloration at all—just solid green leaves. The seller mentioned that "all plants are not equal," but I'm wondering if it's possible for some of these plants to just stay green. Could it be a seasonal thing or does it need more sunlight? I was really hoping this plant would brighten up a darker area in my garden. Any insights would be appreciated!
2 Answers
Honestly, it might just be that you got a different plant altogether. Sometimes sellers make mistakes, and you could all just have a plain green version instead. If it doesn't match the description, definitely follow up with the seller. But hey, it's still a nice green plant!
It sounds like the lack of sunlight could be affecting your plant. I’ve had a large, established 'Emerald 'n Gold', and the leaves in the shade tend to look just like yours—green all over. When it gets more sun, especially on the side facing south, the leaves show that beautiful gold variegation. If you keep it in deep shade, you might only see the green. So, giving it a bit more sunlight could help bring out that gold color later!
I noticed the same with mine! After a good pruning, the inner leaves were very green, but they turned brighter yellow in the sun. I've learned that they really do thrive with more light.
Good to know! I didn't realize the light could make such a difference. Thanks for that tip!

Thanks for confirming my suspicions! That’s what I thought, too.