• popular
• dynamic, colourful presence in fall
• attractive fruit capsules with red to orange seeds
• deer resistant
• easy
• tolerates a wide variety of soil, well drained
• drought resistant
• grows 10 – 15 ft H X 10-12ft W.
• invasive in eastern north America. Check invasive species lists
• all parts are toxic to animals with the exception of some birds
• several varieties including seedless and compact

A scarlet red Burning Bush really cannot be beaten for colour in the fall. They look spectacular with an evergreen backdrop and for this reason they are frequently used in commercial landscaping but that is no reason not to grow them in the home garden. They combine well in a shrub border with Barberries that might have almost equally stunning foliage and interesting evergreens of similar size. Underplanted with bulbs or ground covers they assist in making an easy shrub border.

The flowers of Euonymus alatus are insignificant, a small greenish white flower that becomes a fruit capsule containing brightly coloured orange to red seeds. The leaves are simple elliptical and arranged in pairs along the stem. They maintain their green colour through the summer but as temperatures dip in the fall the crimson colour gradually develops. The stems are unique with their ‘wings of cork ridges’ giving rise to the name ‘Winged Euonymus’.

The Burning Bush is also known as Spindle Tree or Bush due to its cork-like wood which at one time was used for making spindles used in the wool trade.