Euonymus Alatus

Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)

A deciduous shrub from the Staff-Tree Family (Celastraceae)

 Burning Bush, a non-native species from China and Korea, has
escaped from the ornamental plantings into urban and rural
areas. It travels by way of its seed. This plant is found in
forests and brushy areas. This vase-shaped shrub has great red
fall foliage, which glows for weeks in early to mid-autumn.
Burning Bushes can be sheared into hedges or globes in landscape
plantings. Hedges from burning bushes can be very dense giving
good screening even in the winter. If left unpruned, the compact
form of Burning Bush will grow to about 12 feet tall and 15 feet
wide, and the winged form will grow to about 15 feet tall and 20
feet wide. In our area it propagates naturally in shaded areas.
We obtain some of our stock from seedlings we gather from a
small farm cemetery on our property. It even regrows after
transplanting from the empty holes where roots are exposed.
Burning Bush is adaptable to a variety of soil conditions.
Fertile to sterile, organic to clay, acidic to alkaline, rocky
to sandy this plant proves its strenght. It does not like wet
soils, but does well in dry soils. Its small fiberous roots are
near the surface and responds well to root pruning. Balling and
burlapping this shrub does little damage for the plant can take
abuse and recover quickly. If you have a brown thumb, then this
plant is for you. You can see more of Bill's planting tips and
articles at http://www.seedlingsrus.com or
http://www.zone5trees.com