As such it grows to 20 m (66 ft), climbing by means of small rootlets on the stems, similar to ivy (an example of convergent evolution, as the two species are not related).

[5] The species was described in 1863 as Elaeodendron fortunei by Nikolai Turczaninow,[6] who named it in honour of the Scottish botanist and plant explorer Robert Fortune.

[6][9] As of August 2024[update], Plants of the World Online accepted two varieties:[1] It has an extensive native range, including many parts of China (from sea level to 3400 m elevation), India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

[2] Euonymus fortunei is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant, with numerous cultivars selected for such traits as yellow, variegated and slow, dwarfed growth.

The following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:[15] Plants propagated from mature flowering stems (formerly sometimes named "f. carrierei") always grow as non-climbing shrubs.