Burning Bush
Euonymus alatus
Embedded Files
A photo of Euonymus alatus by David Wagner is liscensed under CC0
About
About
Euonymus alatus, aka Burning Bush, is a large, deciduous shrub from Asia. Known for its bright red fall colors and eye-catching fruit, Burning Bush is a popular decorative plant. First observed in the 70s, Burning Bush can quickly spread to natural areas because of its ability to grow in many environments and prolific fruiting.
"The Burning Bush" by Bobbi Jones Jones is liscensed under CC0
"my photo" by habun is liscensed under CC0
"Euonymus alatus" by CommunismNow is liscensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Identifying Features
Identifying Features
Bright red fall foliage
5 to 10 feet tall
Opposite, oval to tear-drop shaped finely toothed leaves, 1 - 2 inches in length
Small, red berries about 1/2 an inch in diameter that ripen in the fall
Corky, wing-like stems
"photo of fruit" by Peter M. Dzuik is licensed under CC BY 3.0
"invading a woodland" by Katy Chayka is licensed under CC BY 3.0
Ecosystem Impacts
Ecosystem Impacts
Outcompetes native shrubs
Reduces habitat diversity
Forms a dense shade and tight root system
Makes plant survival under the shrub almost impossible
Disrupts native pollinator habitats and food sources
Removal Techniques
Removal Techniques
Check for Burning Bush every June and September
Pull out smaller plants
Dig or pull out larger plants with a Weed Wrench before July, when Burning Bush produces berries
July to September: Cut the plant to 1 inch from the ground and apply glyphosate herbicide to the freshly cut stump
March to June: Cut the plant to 6 to 12 inches and wait until July to apply glyphosate herbicide
You can find a management calendar for Burning Bush on Pennsylvania State University's website here
Native Alternatives
Native Alternatives
Arrowwood
White flowers in spring or early summer
"Witch Hazel" by Si Griffiths under CC BY-SA 3.0
Witch Hazel
A fall blooming plant with yellow flowers
"Cornus racemosa" by Frank Mayfield under CC BY-SA 2.0
Gray Dogwood
Blooms with small greenish-white flowers
References
References
"Invasive Plants in Your Backyard!" by the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District
General Information
Identification
Native alternatives
"Burning Bush" on PennState Extension
General Information
Identification
Removal Techniques
"Winged Euonymus: An Exotic Invasive Plant Fact Sheet" on the Ecological Landscaping Alliance website
Removal Techniques
Further Readings
Minnesota Wildflower's article on Euonymus Alatus
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