WINGED BURNING BUSH

WINGED BURNING BUSH

Euonymus alatus
STAFF TREE FAMILY (Celastraceae)

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This naturalized shrub was introduced from Northeast Asia as an ornamental for its bright purplish red fall foliage (C,D). It grows as a shrub or small tree up to 15 feet tall and is considered invasive. Its lance-shaped leaves are opposite on the twigs (C). The small, yellowish-green flowers bloom in May (A,B). The stems have unusual, corky “wings” on both sides (C). The bright red fruit is an elongated drupe, which can be seen on this shrub in September and October (E).

One solitary shrub was found in Raccoon Hollow, another just off the last loop of the Fontenelle Forest boardwalk.

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