Burning Bush
Euonymus alatus · Celastraceae (Staff-tree or Bittersweet family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Elliptic to ovate-lanceolate
Margin
Finely serrate
Arrangement
Opposite
Venation
Pinnate with a prominent midrib and delicate branching lateral veins
Key Features
Opposite, finely serrate leaves that turn fiery red in fall, combined with distinctive corky, winged ridges running along the stems and twigs
Description
Euonymus alatus is a dense, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub famous for its striking brilliant red autumn foliage. It features unique corky wings along its stems, small greenish-yellow flowers in spring, and small reddish-purple fruits that split open to reveal orange arils.
Habitat
Thrives in full sun to partial shade, adaptable to a wide range of soils from clay to sand, though prefers well-drained loams; highly adaptable and drought-tolerant once established
Native Range
Native to central and northern China, Japan, and Korea; widely introduced and naturalized across eastern and midwestern North America