Euonymus hamiltonianus subsp. sieboldianus var. sieboldianus ("Mayumi")

Japanese name: マユミ （真弓、檀、檀弓）
Scientific name: Euonymus hamiltonianus subsp. sieboldianus var. sieboldianus

[Overview]
A deciduous small tree about 3 m tall, growing in forests and at forest edges in the mountains.
The current-year twigs are green and smooth.
The leaves are simple and opposite, elliptic to oblong, 5–15 cm long and 2–8 cm wide, with fine wavy serrations on the margin.
The leaves turn red in autumn.
The petiole is 0.5–2 cm long.
The plant is dioecious, and the inflorescences and flowers have the same form on male and female plants.
One or two pairs of cymes 2–4 cm long arise beside the bud scale scars at the base of the current-year twigs, each bearing 1–7 flowers.
The inflorescence has a stalk 1.5–2 cm long, and the flower stalks are 5–7 mm.
The flowers are about 1 cm across, with 4 yellowish-green petals.
The fruit is a globose capsule about 1 cm across, with 4 ridges, and is angular.
The fruit ripens pale red, splits into 4, and hangs out red seeds.
The fruit opens during the day and closes at night.

[Uses]
The wood is tough and very flexible, so it has long been used as a material for bows, and it is also used for seals and combs.
At one time it was also used as a raw material for washi (Japanese paper).

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or cuttings.
Seedlings vary in character and may turn out to be male plants, so cuttings are the usual method.
Take cuttings of previous-year branches in January–February, and of current-year branches in June.
In a sunny position it is not particular about soil, but its roots are shallow, so it dislikes dryness.
It tolerates partial shade, but with poor sunlight the autumn color is poor.
Female plants alone will set fruit.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
For plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient unless dry weather continues.
Apply slow-release fertilizer at the base of the plant as fertilizer in winter.
If pruning, do so while the plant is leafless.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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