Burning Bush
Euonymus alatus · Celastraceae (Staff vine or Bittersweet family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous leaf
Shape
Elliptic to ovate-lanceolate
Margin
Finely serrate
Arrangement
Opposite
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent midrib and branching secondary veins
Key Features
Prominent corky wings along the stems, opposite simple leaves, and brilliant fiery red fall color
Description
Euonymus alatus is a dense, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub known for its spectacular fiery red autumn foliage and distinctive corky ridges or 'wings' that develop along the twigs and branches. It produces small, inconspicuous yellowish-green flowers in spring, followed by purplish-red capsule fruits that split open to reveal orange aril-covered seeds.
Habitat
Thrives in full sun to partial shade, adaptable to a wide range of well-drained soil types including clay, loam, and sand, with moderate drought tolerance once established
Native Range
Native to central and northern China, Japan, and Korea; widely planted as an ornamental across North America and Europe, where it is frequently considered invasive