Invasive Alien Plant Species of Virginia Winged Burning Bush (Euonymus Alatus (Thunb.) Siebold)

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Invasive Alien Plant Species of Virginia Winged Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Siebold)

Description hardiness, extending from New Winged burning bush is a deciduous England south to northern Florida shrub that will grow to 15 to 20 feet and the Gulf Coast. It is commonly tall and equally as wide. It is a used in landscaping, especially for member of the Staff-tree family malls and highways. However, (Celastraceae) with elliptic to reports suggest winged burning bush obovate leaves, which are opposite may spread by seed from wherever or sub-opposite, 1 to 3 inches long it is used as an ornamental shrub. and ½ to 1¼ inches wide. The leaves turn a bright red in the fall before Threat dropping. Occurring in May to early The threat to natural areas from June, the small green flowers are burning bush euonymus is that it inconspicuous. The green to brown shades out native herbs and crowds stems have two to four prominent out native shrubs. Unfortunately, corky wings. birds are very fond of the 1/4- to 1/ 3-inch long red fruit and Habitat consequently distribute the seeds Native to northeastern Asia to across the countryside where plants central China, winged burning bush, readily sprout and establish also known as winged euonymus themselves, enhancing the extent of and burning bush euonymus, was the plant’s distribution. According introduced into this country about to the Atlas of Virginia Flora, 3rd Winged Burning Bush (Euonymus 1860 as an ornamental shrub. It is edition (1992), it appears in only alatus (Thunb.) Siebold) very adaptable to a variety of soils, four counties of Virginia. That including being pH adaptable, information is not up-to-date. The predictable that we will be unable performing best in well drained soils shrub may become one of our most to persuade either landscapers or and poorest in waterlogged soils. It troublesome plants because of the nurserymen to voluntarily abandon grows well in full shade and full sun ease with which its seeds are spread, either the use or sale of this plant. but shows stress in soils subject to the readiness of germination, its drought. adaptability to various soils, its Control tolerance of full shade and its Control is therefore considered Distribution spectacular fall foliage. Even difficult once a parent plant has Winged burning bush, because of its Fernald recognized this in his 8th become established. It will probably spectacularly red autumn foliage, is edition of Gray’s Manual of Botany not be much of a problem in cities, one of the most popular shrubs on printed in 1950 as noted by his towns or thickly developed areas, the market. Consequently, its comment, “spreads from but any nearby woodland where distribution is limited only by its cult[ivation].” It appears entirely birds can roost may quickly become

For more information, contact the Department of Conservation and Recreation or the Virginia Native Plant Society. Virginia Native Plant Society Blandy Experimental Farm Route 2, Box 214 Boyce, VA 22620 (540) 837-1600 217 Governor Street, Richmond, VA 23219 (804) 786-7951; http://www.state.va.us/~dcr/vaher.html http://www.hort.vt.edu/vnps/ Jim Gilmore, Governor • John Paul Woodley, Jr., Secretary of Natural Resources • David G. Brickley, Director, Department of Conservation and Recreation Invasive Alien Plant Species of Virginia Winged Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Siebold) infested. Therefore, abstaining from “Brilliantissima” is recommended References using the plant becomes the most for more brilliant red foliage in the Dirr, M.A. 1990. Manual of woody important step toward control. fall. Another choice would be the landscape plants. Stipes Publishing Co., Continued use of winged burning non-invasive exotic Koreanspice Champaign, IL. bush may result in it becoming a Viburnum (Viburnum carlesii), Fernald, M.L. 1950. Gray’s manual of widespread invasive. No which may have reddish to wine-red botany, eighth edition. American Book information on control of this fall color; however, fall selection is Company, Boston. species was found researching this advised to be certain of the color one fact sheet. Attempt control as for any may expect. Gleason, H.A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. shrub species. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. New For more information on native York Botanical Garden. Alternative Plants plant conservation, contact the A native shrub of rather limited Virginia Native Plant Society at the Harvill, A., et al. 1992. Atlas of Virginia availability that is not invasive to address below. For information on flora. Burkesville, VA. natural landscapes is red chokeberry Virginia’s natural areas and natural (Aronia arbutifolia). It is spectacular heritage resources, contact the Illustration reprinted with permission from in October when the foliage turns a Virginia Department of The Illustrated Companion to Gleason and Cronquist’s Manual: Illustrations of brilliant red. The growth is more lax Conservation and Recreation’s Vascular Plants of Northeastern United and less compact than the winged Natural Heritage Program (see States and Adjacent Canada, copyright burning bush. The cultivar address below). 1998, The New York Botanical Garden.

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