# winged euonymus (*Euonymus alatus*) The winged euonymus is a fun shrub with unique, wing-like growths on its branches. In autumn, its leaves turn bright red, making it a beautiful sight in gardens and parks! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 37 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Burning Bush ![winged euonymus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Euonymous_alatus.jpg&width=800) Photo: Chris Barton/ Gif absarnt, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Euonymous_alatus.jpg) ## Appearance The winged euonymus is a striking shrub known for its unique corky 'wings' that grow along its green branches. Its oval leaves are green through summer, transforming into an intense, fiery scarlet or crimson in autumn before shedding. Small, inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers give way to bright red berries. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Celastrales - **Family:** Celastraceae - **Genus:** Euonymus ## Interesting facts - Despite its beauty, this plant is considered an invasive species in many parts of the U.S.! - Even though it's a shrub, it can live for many decades, growing slowly over time! - Its scientific name, \*alatus\*, literally means 'winged,' referring to its cool branches! - The plant's fiery red fall color is so intense, it's often called the 'Burning Bush'! ## Special abilities - **Corky Wings:** Winged euonymus has distinct corky 'wings' on its branches that make it easy to identify, especially in winter. - **Fiery Fall Signal:** Winged euonymus transforms into a brilliant red in autumn, a visual signal that helps birds spot its seeds for dispersal. - **Berry Defense:** Winged euonymus produces bright red berries that are toxic to humans and most animals, protecting its precious seeds. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 150-300 cm - **Spread:** 150-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Eats:** [American robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — consumes its bright red berries - **Eats:** [cedar waxwing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cedar-waxwing) (*Bombycilla cedrorum*) — also feeds on its persistent berries - **Symbiotic with:** red wood ant (*Formica rufa*) — aids in seed dispersal ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not eat the berries without asking an adult, as they can be harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify winged euonymus? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is winged euonymus? 150-300 cm ### How wide does winged euonymus spread? 150-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on winged euonymus? 0.5-1 cm ### When does winged euonymus bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is winged euonymus edible? No ### Is winged euonymus toxic? Moderate ### What is winged euonymus's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Abbott Farm Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abbott-farm-historic-district) — New Jersey, US · Historic District - [American Baptist College](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/american-baptist-college) — Tennessee, US · Campus - [Berkshire Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berkshire-botanical-garden) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden - [Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blackhand-gorge-state-nature-preserve) — Ohio, US · Nature Reserve - [Blackstone Boulevard–Cole Avenue–Grotto Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blackstone-boulevard-cole-avenue-grotto-avenue-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Broadway-Armory Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadway-armory-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District [View all places to see winged euonymus](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/winged-euonymus) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Winged Euonymus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/winged-euonymus)