Euonymus alatus ~ aka Winged Euonymus or Burning Bush

Last weekend while I was strolling around the house in the early hours of the morning .. The sun was just beginning to poke over the horizon and shine on the top of the house. As I turn the corner at the back of the house and headed toward the front yard, I noticed the euonymus bushes burning brightly and it took my breath away. The rich red color was simply amazing as it dazzled my eyes.

With coffee in hand (like so many other times) I took a walk around the yard. I took a sip and made my way along the side of the house where we had planted a row of euonymus bushes several years ago. It’s also known as Burning Bush, and I guess now you can see why. We planted them because we knew they would turn a bright red come fall, but we also liked their fast growth and dense foliage. They do a fantastic job at protecting or hiding our air conditioners which can be unsightly and are also at risk of theft.

The only problem is that sometimes they grow too fast. These plants can put on a foot or more of growth every season. I trim them once in the spring and once in the fall to keep them under control. I tend to get a little bent out of shape when I have to trim them because hey, yard work can be a pain in the butt. But (haha I said butt twice!), when fall rolls around and they begin turning this bright red color, all is forgiven.

In the photo below you can see that I haven’t trimmed them yet for the fall. The tops of the bushes or about a foot over the bottoms of the windows. I will give them a nice hard cut back after the leaves fall off. If I don’t get to it then first thing in the spring I will trim them.

Sometimes these plants are called winged euonymus because of the wing like appendages that run up and down the stems of the newer growth. You can just about make it out in the photo below. The older the growth gets, the less likely the winged portions are still visible. I use an electric hand trimmer for the most part, but do you have to use a hand trimmer to get the older growth cut out due to its girth or thickness.

I don’t worry about the timing of my pruning as flowers are concerned, because the flowers are inconspicuous in nature. This means that they don’t have any real value as far as aesthetics go. They are tiny, small and green. Here is an old photo, but it gives you a general idea of what I am talking about. The winged areas are also quite noticeable here as well.

The flowers eventually give way to fleshy, light green seeds that eventually turn a nice shade of red, just like the leaves that surround them. The birds find the seeds delightful and do eat the majority of them. Leftover flower petals are still noticeable just above each seed. They too turned red. Everything is red!!!

I did find one area that hasn’t turned red yet. Well, it hasn’t fully turned red. It’s waiting for something. I don’t know what for, but it’s waiting. Hehe. There’s always one black sheep in the bunch! It too will eventually turn bright red and be the last to fall to the ground.

Sadly nothing last forever, and so it goes with the burning bush. Already the leaves are starting to fall off as soon as they turn red. I wish they would last just a little bit longer so I could enjoy them for a little more than a week or two. I suppose there’s always next autumn, but we have a long way to go yet.

I enjoyed them today, and that's all that really matters. None of us are promised a tomorrow, so I am happy I was able to see this beauty today. Stay safe this weekend!!!

“Red", I write "is the color of life. It's blood, passion, rage. It's menstrual flow and after birth. Beginnings and violent end. Red is the color of love. Beating hearts and hungry lips. Roses, Valentines, cherries. Red is the color of shame. Crimson cheeks and spilled blood. Broken hearts, opened veins. A burning desire to return to white.”
― Mary Hogan, Pretty Face

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