Euonymus alatus
An otherwise uninteresting plant during the spring and summer, euonymus alatus also known as a burning bush gradually turns from green to a brilliant red with orange-hued berries. A common plant, especially when one is atuned to spot it, euonymous alatus is considered by many to be an invasive species. Recently, Botany Photo of the Day profiled the rather similar euonymus europeanus.
Thoughts of invasion notwithstanding, this plant grows at a fast clip, around 13 to 24 inches per year. It is a an easy plant to maintain as it tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and enjoys everything between full shade to full sun. Come winter, feel free to hack away as this euonymous tolerates heavy pruning. It'll still love you come April.
3 comments:
Invasive species are nothing to shrug off. Look at what Kudzu has done to the southern Apalachians. Originally brought here as a garden ornamental it has thrived in the Southern US and literally strangled 30,000 square kilometers of forest to death.
Your pictures show Burning Bush, also known as Winged Eonymus, Euonymus alatus. It is an exotic and is *highly* invasive in mid-Atlantic woodlands where it quickly spreads through the understory due to birds eating the fruits and spreading the seeds. Euonymus americanus is a native plant and is *not* invasive.
You are certainly correct. Thank you. I've changed the post.
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