Euonymus hedging is notable for its variegated - multicoloured - foliage, the most famous of which being the RHS Garden Award of Merit winning 'Ovatus Aureus' with its green leaves and yellow margins. Most varieties sold are within the oriental japonica species with their finely-serrated oval leaves, often small. Cultivars vary in the degree of variegation as can individual plants depending on their conditions. There are patterns for everyone including Kathy with white margins and 'Microphyllus Argenteus' with green leaves and silver margins. A great alternative to box, ‘Green Millenium’ has no variegation. Evergreen and bushy, euonymus is constitute an ideal choice for an informal hedgerow. 

Known as spindle in Europe, Euonymus europaeus was the material of choice for constructing spindles for spinning wool, hence its name. Different to the japonica species, europaeus is distinctive for its showy red fruits and vibrant orange seeds, appearing in autumn. Euonymus itself means well-named in Greek, but why it got this name, your guess is as good as ours.