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Loveless, Brenda K.

Euonymus atropurpureus

Euonymus atropurpureus Jacq.

Burningbush, Eastern Wahoo, Burning Bush, Wahoo, Waahoo, Whahoo, Spindle Tree

Celastraceae (Bittersweet Family)

Synonym(s): Euonymus atropurpurea

USDA Symbol: EUAT5

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Shrub or rarely a small tree with spreading, irregular crown and red or purple capsules suggesting a burning bush. Eastern wahoo is a large, clumping, deciduous shrub which can develop into a small tree, 20-25 ft. tall. Twigs are lime-green and bordered by corky lines. Leaves are the same lime-green, turning red in fall. Small purple flowers are succeeded by showy fruits. The crimson pods split in mid-autumn to reveal scarlet-coated seeds which hang on far into winter.

The powdered bark was used by American Indians and pioneers as a purgative. "Wahoo" was a Dakota term for the plant, literally meaning arrow-wood. The Latin species name, meaning "dark purple," refers to the color of the fruit.

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 25 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Purple
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , WI , WV
Native Distribution: Ont. to s. MI, MN & ND, s. to FL & e. TX
Native Habitat: Floodplains; stream banks; moist woods

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
Soil Description: Fertile, moist soils.
Conditions Comments: Though quite shade-tolerant, this shrub does well in full sun. It is somewhat naturalized in the New York. Plants are susceptible to Euonymus scale and crown gall, and need protection from deer and rabbits. Root suckers may be pulled off if a single-stemmed tree is desired.

Propagation

Description: Semi-hardwood cuttings taken in fall root readily with no hormone treatment. Increase also by separating suckers. A less reliable method of propagation is by seed. Its dense, shallow roots make it easy to transplant when dormant.
Seed Collection: Pick seeds by hand just before fleshy capsules begin to split. Air-dry on screens. Store in sealed, refrigerated containers.
Seed Treatment: Seed must be stratified. Some texts say a single stratification at 32-50 degrees for 90-120 days is appropriate. Others say double stratification is necessary … 90 days warm and 60 days cool.
Commercially Avail: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FAC				FACU	FACU		FAC	FACU

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Bibliography

Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 3 - Flora of North America (2014) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Euonymus atropurpureus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Euonymus atropurpureus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Euonymus atropurpureus

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-05
Research By: TWC Staff

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