Burning Bush
Euonymus alatus
A deciduous shrub famous for its spectacular fall color transformation from green to brilliant crimson-red. This low-maintenance shrub creates stunning autumn displays and serves as an excellent foundation planting or hedge. Despite its invasive status in some regions, it remains one of the most sought-after shrubs for reliable fall color.
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
4–8
USDA hardiness
Height
15-20 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Burning Bush in USDA Zone 7
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Burning Bush · Zones 4–8
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 6-feet-12 feet, 12-24 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed, Stem Cutting. Regions: Coastal, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Small 1/2 inch long, red, fleshy fruit ripens in fall within a red capsule. This red, pink, ivory to yellow capsule splits to show orange-red seeds in the fall that are attractive to birds. The fall berries are eaten by birds, and the seeds are easily spread by birds. An obovoid, dehiscent capsule; single seed enclosed in orange-red aril.
Color: Cream/Tan, Gold/Yellow, Orange, Pink, Red/Burgundy. Type: Berry, Capsule. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Showy
Harvest time: Fall
Edibility: Use caution. Many species of this genus are toxic to humans.
Storage & Preservation
Burning Bush is an ornamental shrub, not a culinary item, so traditional storage and preservation methods don't apply. However, if preserving cut branches for floral arrangements, place stems in fresh water at room temperature (65-75°F) and change water every 2-3 days; keep out of direct sunlight. Cut foliage lasts 7-10 days indoors. For long-term preservation, press autumn leaves between parchment paper under heavy books for 1-2 weeks, then store flat in airtight containers away from moisture. Alternatively, air-dry branches in a cool, dry location for 2-3 weeks for dried arrangements.
History & Origin
Origin: South Siberia to East Asia, Japan and China.
Advantages
- +Attracts: Bees, Songbirds
- +Edible: Use caution. Many species of this genus are toxic to humans.
Considerations
- -Toxic (Bark, Flowers, Fruits, Leaves, Roots, Sap/Juice, Seeds, Stems): Low severity
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
The shade-tolerant companions in our database — hostas, astilbe, ferns, heuchera, and Japanese painted fern — pair well with Burning Bush because they share a preference for consistent moisture and are built for the partial shade the shrub casts once it fills out to its full 15-20 feet. They stay low, so there's no real canopy competition. In our zone 7 Georgia gardens, that dense skirt of ground-level foliage also slows soil moisture loss through the dry spells of late summer, which benefits the Burning Bush's shallow feeder roots.
Black walnut is the one to plant nowhere near it. The tree releases juglone, an allelopathic compound that moves through the soil and is toxic to a wide range of plants — Euonymus is sensitive enough that proximity alone can cause slow decline. Large maples and dense evergreens are a different kind of problem: aggressive root systems that out-compete for water, plus canopy shade that runs deeper than 4-6 hours. Burning Bush needs that sun to fire up its fall color; shade it out and you get a forgettable green shrub that earns no space in a small garden.
Plant Together
Hostas
Thrives in partial shade created by burning bush, complementary foliage textures
Astilbe
Benefits from filtered light under burning bush canopy, adds spring color contrast
Ferns
Enjoys the cool, moist conditions in burning bush's shade, creates layered woodland effect
Heuchera
Tolerates partial shade, colorful foliage complements fall burning bush display
Japanese Painted Fern
Thrives in dappled shade, silvery foliage contrasts beautifully with burning bush
Caladium
Benefits from filtered sunlight, colorful leaves provide summer interest before fall show
Bergenia
Tolerates shade and dry conditions, evergreen leaves provide year-round structure
Lamium
Excellent groundcover for shade areas, variegated foliage brightens understory
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that can stunt growth and cause leaf yellowing
Dense Evergreens
Competes aggressively for water and nutrients, creates too much shade
Large Maple Trees
Shallow root system competes heavily for surface water and nutrients
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Generally disease resistant, very hardy
Common Pests
Scale insects, spider mites
Diseases
Crown gall, powdery mildew (rare)
Troubleshooting Burning Bush
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Bumpy, waxy brown or tan lumps on stems and branches, often with sticky residue on leaves below
Likely Causes
- Euonymus scale (Unaspis euonymi) — one of the most common and destructive pests on this genus
- Soft scale insects settling in on stressed or overcrowded plants
What to Do
- 1.Scrub visible scale off smaller branches with a stiff toothbrush dipped in soapy water
- 2.Apply horticultural oil in late winter before new growth breaks, or insecticidal soap during the crawler stage in late spring
- 3.If infestation is heavy on a main scaffold branch, prune it out entirely and bag the debris
Fine webbing on leaf undersides with stippled, bronze-looking foliage, worse in hot dry stretches
Likely Causes
- Two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) — they thrive when temperatures push above 85°F and humidity drops
- Water stress making the plant more susceptible
What to Do
- 1.Blast the undersides of leaves hard with a hose for several days running — mites hate moisture and the physical removal works
- 2.Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil in the evening to avoid leaf scorch, repeating every 5-7 days for 3 applications
- 3.Keep soil consistently moist; a drought-stressed Burning Bush is a mite magnet
Rough, warty galls at the crown or on main roots, plant looks stunted with poor color overall
Likely Causes
- Crown gall (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) — a soil-borne bacterium that enters through wounds at planting or from tool cuts
- Planting into soil that previously hosted infected roses, apples, or other susceptible woody plants
What to Do
- 1.There's no cure once a plant is infected — remove and dispose of it in the trash, not the compost
- 2.Don't replant a susceptible woody shrub in that same spot for at least 3 years
- 3.Sterilize pruning tools with a 10% bleach solution or 70% isopropyl alcohol between plants