Melinda Myers

Burning Bush

Botanical Name

Euonymus alatus

Hardiness

Zones 4 to 9

Height

15 to 20 feet

Width

15 to 20 feet

Flowers

May to early June: yellow-green, 3 flowered cyme; not ornamentally effective

Fruit

4-lobed dehiscent capsule holding orange-red seeds

Fall Color

Reds

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil

Well-drained (best)

Planting & Care

• Poor fall color with heavy shade and excess nitrogen

Problems

Euonymus caterpillar, clay soil decline, scale, mites, overused, poorly sited (pruned into unnatural shape), can be invasive, RABBITS

Varieties

• Compactus - 6-8' tall, less corky bark, fall color later and more maroon, less winter hardy
• Nordine Strain - more compact, more branches near ground, Zone 3b
• Chicago Fire^TM - 8-10' by 6-8' in 15 years, cinnamon red fall color, lots of fruit