Winged burning bush
Common name: Winged burning bush
Scientific name: Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Sieb.
Synonyms: Burning bush, winged euonymus, winged spindle tree
Legal status: Restricted
Propagation and sale of this plant are prohibited in Minnesota. Transportation is only allowed when in compliance with Minnesota Statute 18.82. Although Restricted Noxious Weeds are not required to be controlled or eradicated by law, landowners are strongly encouraged to manage these invasive plants on their properties in order to reduce spread into new areas. Minnesota Noxious Weed Law.
Life cycle: Perennial
Related species: Introduced species: E. fortuneii, E. europaeus, E. hamitonianus. Native species: E. atropurpureus.
Habitat: Grows in full sun or full shade, adaptable to may growing conditions.
Impact: Environmental: Very shade tolerant, forms dense canopy, reduces native plant diversity in understory, prolific seed producer, seeds disbursed by wildlife.
Native range: Asia including far eastern Russia, central China, Korea and Japan.
Means of spread: Plants reproduce by seed which are spread by wildlife.
Background
Winged burning bush was introduced to North America in the mid-1800s for use as an ornamental shrub. The bright red fall foliage makes it an attractive landscape plant and it has been commonly planted as hedges and in foundation plantings. Shade tolerance and good form without much pruning are also important characteristics that make winged burning bush a valuable and popular plant.
Identification
Winged burning bush is a woody perennial shrub averaging 5-10 feet tall. It can form multiple stems or a single stem that branches close to the ground. It is a member of the Celastraceae (Bittersweet) family. Leaves are simple and opposite, finely serrated, 1 – 3 inches long and taper into a point. Young branches develop reddish, corky “wings” giving this shrub a distinctive appearance. Fruits mature into red capsules that eventually split open exposing 1 – 4 bright orange to red berry-like arils containing two seeds each.
Management
- Mechanical: pulling or digging up roots
- Chemical: Foliar, cut stump, hack and squirt, basal bark herbicide treatments
Images and their description
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Characteristics described |
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Leaves turn bright red in fall. |
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Clusters of small flowers develop in leaf axils.
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Fleshy, bright orange to orange-red fruit develop in the fall. |
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Infestation forms dense shrub layer in forest understory.
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Leaves are pointed, opposite and occur in pairs. |
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Seedling with deep root system. |
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Stems have corky bark or “wings”. |
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Stem with corky bark. |
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Inner bark turns light brown, outer bark is darker gray-brown. |
