Euonymus alatus, known variously as winged spindle, winged euonymus or burning bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Celastraceae, native to central and northern China, Japan, and Korea.
Family:
Celastraceae (Staff-tree)
Height:
6 to 12 feet
Habit:
Shrub that can have a single stem or multiple stems, spreading habit
Leaves:
Opposite, oval-shaped up to 3.5 inches long and 1.5 inches wide. Leaf edges have fine serration.
Bark:
Grayish brown bark with shallow furrows. Twigs have unique, four-sided “wings”.
Flower:
Small green or yellow 4-petaled flowers (0.25 inches across)
Fruit:
Capsules with 4 lobes, turning from green to red at maturity. Capsule splits when ripe, revealing 1-4 red or orange fruits (arils).
Bloom time:
May-June
Fall color:
Red
Nicknames:
Winged Euonymus, Winged Spindle Tree
Habitat:
Woods, thickets, disturbed areas
Notes:
Winged burning bush is a non-native (native to Asia) shrub that was once a common landscaping species. Similar to buckthorn, it is a prolific seeder that has spread far beyond where it was cultivated, producing dense thickets that outcompete native vegetation. This invasive shrub should be eradicated to limit further spread.
References:
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/shrub/winged-burning-bush
https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/trees/plants/ro_dogwood.htm
Listing | invasive |
---|---|
Habit | Shrub |
Origin | introduced |
Life cycle | perennial |
Family | Celastraceae |
Bloom time | (5) May, (6) June |
*sites | Lake Phalen, Snail Lake |