Euonymus alatus and E. atropurpureus
Burning bush, Euonymus alatus, is a probably invasive non-native woody shrub within the Celastraceae household.
It’s associated to the native burning bush, E. atropurpureus, in addition to native bittersweet, Celastrus scandens and its extremely invasive non-native counterpart, C. orbiculatus.
E. alatus grows in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to eight and might attain heights of 15 to twenty ft with a selection of eight to 12 ft.
Compact varieties could also be as small as six to eight ft tall and 4 to 6 ft large.
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Aptly named, burning bush’s declare to fame is the show-stopping scarlet hue of its autumn foliage.
Learn on to study extra about this controversial shrub and find out how to domesticate it safely in areas the place it’s permitted.
Right here’s what I’ll cowl:
Throughout virtually half of the USA, from the Northeast to the South and Midwest, E. alatus is classed as invasive.
In some states, like Massachusetts and New Hampshire, it’s truly banned, because it has the potential to unfold prolifically by way of seed dispersal.
There are quite a few Euonymus species associated to E. alatus and plenty of of them have invasive tendencies as properly.
Fast Look
Frequent title(s): Burning bush, winged euonymus, winged burning bush
Plant kind: Woody deciduous shrub
Hardiness (USDA Zone): 4-8
Native to: Asia, jap North America
Season: Fall
Publicity: Full solar
Soil kind: Unfastened, wealthy, well-draining
Soil pH: 6.0-7.5, barely acidic to impartial
Time to maturity: As much as 10 years
Mature dimension: 6-20 ft excessive by 4-12 ft large
Greatest makes use of: Border, formal or casual hedge, basis planting, privateness display, specimen
Taxonomy
Order: Celastrales
Household: Celastraceae
Genus: Euonymus
Species: Alatus, atropurpureus
Why are we going to speak about find out how to develop an invasive plant?
As a result of for greater than half of our US-based readers and an ideal a lot of our worldwide ones, E. alatus is just not thought-about problematic.
Please examine together with your native agricultural extension to find out if there are restrictions on planting non-native burning bushes in your area earlier than trying to take action.
For gardeners in areas with restrictions, you may develop an alternate species, a burning bush that’s native to the jap United States, E. atropurpureus. Chances are you’ll discover it’s usually known as the jap or American wahoo.
This native species is similar to its non-native cousin, with the identical cultural necessities and dimension. A uninteresting purple shade, this plant’s finest characteristic is its decorative fruit.
E. atropurpureus thrives in Zones 3 to 7, and helps biodiversity and native wildlife. Mature dimensions are 12 to twenty ft tall and 15 to 25 ft large.
For our readers in locales with out restrictions, you’ve the choice to plant both kind.
The showy burning bush, E. alatus, is of Asian origin, and was possible imported to North America within the 1860s for use as a decorative backyard specimen.
Along with burning bush, E. alatus is also referred to as winged euonymus, winged burning bush, or winged spindle tree, due to a singular characteristic of the stems.
They’ve flattened extensions like little propellers, that are described as corky and wing-like.
Traditionally, Euonymus stems have been prized to be used as knitting needles and thread spindles, therefore the widespread title.
What wasn’t clear when these crops arrived on our shores was that they might leap their manicured beds by way of self-sowing, and over time, North American birds devour the fruits and contribute to widespread seed distribution.
Quick-forward to at present, when practically half the nation has skilled disruption to native flowers due to this misleading autumn magnificence that makes it not possible for endemic species to compete for survival.
Once more, I’d wish to reiterate the significance of contacting your native agricultural extension for recommendation and details about attainable restrictions earlier than planting.
Previous to their spectacular autumnal show, burning bushes have elliptical inexperienced leaves, and nondescript greenish-yellow blossoms seem in early spring.
Along with their fall colours, burning bushes have pinkish pendant or hanging fruits that open like flower petals to disclose orange-red arils containing black seeds.
Whereas they might have had a historic function in Native American medication, the fruits are poisonous and shouldn’t be consumed by folks or pets.
Because the climate cools within the fall, the inexperienced foliage of summer season shades to scarlet. The fruits drop off, scattering seeds that may sprout subsequent 12 months.
This deciduous shrub then drops its leaves, revealing naked “winged” stems that add structural and textural curiosity to the approaching winter panorama.
Now, let’s take a look at find out how to develop a shrub at dwelling.
The right way to Develop
Burning bush makes a putting standalone specimen, particularly when cloaked in its signature scarlet.
It additionally makes an eye catching focus when it stands in distinction to inexperienced shrubs in a combined group.
The dense branches make an impressive formal or casual hedge when planted round patios and alongside property perimeters.
E. atropurpureus has airier branches which are suited to casual, unmanicured hedging.
And if you must soften the sharp edges of architectural components, like partitions and fences, burning bush matches the invoice, merging backyard areas and constructing supplies with dramatic impact.
The place it’s not labeled as invasive, you may let shrubs of both species naturalize to create an expansive drift that explodes right into a profusion of crimson each fall.
Gentle
E. alatus and E. atropurpureus develop finest in full solar to half shade. These species can tolerate full shade, however the colour is not going to be as vibrant.
In uncommon situations, burning bushes could not flip purple. We cowl this in a separate information.
Soil
The perfect soil is of common high quality, drains properly, and has a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Nevertheless, quite a lot of soils and pH ranges could also be tolerated, offered the drainage is sweet.
You possibly can work in some well-rotted compost at planting time so as to add vitamins in addition to promote drainage and moisture retention.
Water
Transplanted cuttings and nursery crops want constant moisture after planting however ought to by no means be in soggy floor.
As soon as established, present an inch of supplemental water per week within the absence of rain – or when the soil is dry two inches down. Mature shrubs have above common drought tolerance.
Fertilizing
In spring, apply a balanced, all-purpose, slow-release granular fertilizer per package deal directions.
I often sprinkle it in a hoop round mine, after which calmly water it into the soil.
Cultivars to Choose
In case you purchase a non-native shrub, you’ll obtain a cultivated selection that has been developed from a number of species for landscaping use.
There’s one sterile cultivar accessible, described under, however any of the others will self-sow.
Listed below are three varieties to think about in areas the place they don’t seem to be prohibited:
Chicago Hearth
E. alatus ‘Timber Creek,’ aka Chicago Hearth®, is an impressive specimen with among the brightest leaves you’ll discover.
Chicago Hearth
Just like the glowing embers of an autumn bonfire, the scarlet foliage of this kind adorns branches that rise to mature heights of eight to 10 ft with a selection of six to eight ft.
Discover Chicago Hearth® crops at Nature Hills Nursery in #3 containers.
Compactus
E. alatus ‘Compactus’ aka ‘Compacta’ lives as much as its title as a smaller model of this fall favourite.
Topping out at a reasonable six to eight ft tall with a selection of 4 to 6 ft, this kind affords the small-space gardener the chance to get pleasure from a specimen planting that gained’t overwhelm a backyard scheme.
‘Compacta’
Discover ‘Compacta’ crops from Nature Hills Nursery in #3 containers.
Hearth Ball Seedless
Hearth Ball Seedless™ is a sterile cultivar splendid for cultivating in areas the place the species is authorized however there may be concern about it spreading.
Notice that if E. alatus is banned in your area you won’t be able to develop this one, regardless that it gained’t unfold.
Bred by horticulturalists at North Carolina State College, Hearth Ball Seedless™ was launched to market in 2025.
Hearth Ball Seedless™
You could find crops in one-quart and two-gallon containers accessible at Quick Rising Bushes.
And take a look at our information to rising Hearth Ball Seedless, a sterile burning bush for extra data.
Pruning and Upkeep
E. alatus, and its native counterpart E. atropurpureus, are low-maintenance backyard residents.
Use clear pruners to chop off any useless or dying branches so your shrub can refocus its efforts on feeding the wholesome ones.
Prune off any broken branches and take away all particles, to keep away from attracting and harboring pests and pathogens.
As well as, chances are you’ll wish to prune your shrubs to keep up a proper hedge, or take away wayward branches similar to people who block a walkway, for instance.
And if naturalizing crops by way of self-sowing is just not what you take into consideration, you’ll wish to be vigilant about plucking undesirable seedlings within the spring.
Propagation
Though the burning bush produces seeds, cultivated varieties could not reproduce “true,” leading to progeny that varies in high quality and bodily traits.
As well as, propagating seeds is the slowest approach to begin a brand new shrub.
Sooner and higher methods to start are with softwood cuttings or starter crops bought from a nursery.
Right here’s how:
From Cuttings
In early summer season, when the primary flush of latest progress is properly underway, you may take cuttings from the rising suggestions of a longtime shrub for rooting.
Use clear pruners to snip off a size of stem that’s about 4 or 5 inches lengthy.
Pinch off the decrease leaves in order that the underside three inches of the stem are naked.
Dip the freshly minimize stem into rooting hormone powder.
Fill a six-inch-deep, well-draining container about three-quarters full with a sterile potting medium.
Make a three-inch-deep gap within the middle of the potting medium with a pencil or dibber.
Place the dipped stem within the gap and tamp the medium securely round it.
Water properly, and thereafter every time the highest two inches of the soil really feel dry. Use a moisture meter to assist with this job.
Tamp the soil down and water till it drips out the underside of the container. Water a second time, and when the draining stops, place the pot in a sunny place, both indoors or outside.
If you see new progress, meaning rooting is profitable and you’ll transplant it into the backyard.
Transplanting
Early spring and fall are the most effective occasions to plant rooted cuttings or nursery shrubs.
To transplant, use a long-handled, pointed backyard shovel which you can step on.
Dig a gap at the very least twice as large and twice as deep because the pot the shrub is in.
Work the shrub out of its nursery pot, and gently loosen the roots.
Place the basis ball into the outlet in order that the crown is barely above floor stage.
Refill the outlet, taking care to maintain the shrub vertical. Tamp down and water properly.
To plant a single shrub, select a location with room for a mature unfold of eight to 12 ft.
In case you’re going to create a hedge, nearer spacing of 5 to 6 ft is appropriate. You probably have black walnut bushes, don’t fear. This shrub tolerates juglone toxicity.
Apply a three-inch layer of mulch in a circle across the shrub after planting.
Pests and Illness
On the subject of anticipating points with bugs and pathogens, there are few to fret about with E. alatus.
Within the occasion of severely dry circumstances, spider mites could pose a menace. You possibly can examine detecting and controlling spider mites right here.
Caring for infestations is vital, particularly as they might unfold ailments with their piercing mouthparts.
Circumstances which are too moist might also invite bother, within the type of a illness known as twig blight.
This situation causes the thinnest stems on the suggestions of woody crops to die again. It’s brought on by parasitic fungi within the Cytospora genus that overwinters in plant particles.
It could be accompanied by chlorosis, or yellowing of the leaves.
Pruning off affected department parts and treating with a fungicide early within the season may also help to cease the unfold.
Additionally, Euonymus crops on the whole are vulnerable to powdery mildew, a fungal situation that’s treatable with a copper-based fungicide.
As for native E. atropurpureus, there are additionally few pest and illness considerations.
One pest that favors it’s scale, a sap-sucking insect that secretes sticky honeydew, leaving a path that’s prime breeding floor for a fungal situation known as sooty mould.
You possibly can study extra about scale right here.
And at last, you would possibly wish to learn up on deterring deer, as a result of they discover the foliage of each E. alatus and E. atropurpureus to be very appetizing.
A Fall Extravaganza
If non-native E. alatus is just not banned in your area, plant one as a focus, or mass a number of for privateness, and set your autumn panorama ablaze with their vibrant purple foliage.
In case you reside in a locale the place E. alatus is prohibited for its invasiveness, and even when you don’t, think about planting native E. atropurpureus as an alternative, and assist assist biodiversity and wildlife that depend on endemic crops for his or her survival.
In case you develop burning bushes and want to share your ideas, or you probably have any questions that we may also help with, please go away us a message within the feedback part under.
And for extra details about rising woody shrubs within the panorama, try these guides subsequent:
© Ask the Specialists, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for extra particulars. Initially revealed September 3, 2021. Final up to date July 26, 2025. Product photographs by way of Quick Rising Bushes and Nature Hills Nursery. Uncredited photographs: Shutterstock.
