Burning bush Euonymus alatus
Burning bush (Euonymus alatus) is a deciduous perennial shrub in the Celastraceae family, native to Northeast Asia (China, Korea, Japan). It grows 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft) tall and 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -29 °C (-20 °F). Space plants about 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart.
Plan Burning bush in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Burning bush at a glance
| Type | Perennial shrub, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Celastraceae |
| Mature height | 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft) |
| Mature spread | 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft) |
| Spacing | 1.5 m (4.9 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -29 °C (-20 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 4) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 34 °C (93 °F) |
| Flowering | from about May for 1–3 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Northeast Asia (China, Korea, Japan) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇨🇳 China |
| Invasive in | US (eastern and midwestern states; banned or regulated in several, e.g. New Hampshire, Massachusetts), Canada (Ontario): check local rules before planting |
Is Burning bush toxic?
- People: moderately toxic
- Cats: moderately toxic
- Dogs: moderately toxic
- Parts: fruit, seeds, leaves
Cardenolide glycosides and alkaloids in the fruit and leaves cause vomiting, diarrhoea and weakness if eaten.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Burning bush
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
Questions about Burning bush
- How far apart should I plant Burning bush?
- About 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft).
- Does Burning bush need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Burning bush need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Burning bush?
- It tolerates about -29 °C (-20 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 4.
- When does Burning bush flower?
- From about May for 1–3 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Burning bush poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is moderately toxic; for dogs moderately toxic; for people moderately toxic. Cardenolide glycosides and alkaloids in the fruit and leaves cause vomiting, diarrhoea and weakness if eaten.
- What grows well with Burning bush?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Burning bush. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden
- Poisonous plants of North Carolina / Plant Toolbox toxicity, NC State Extension
- CABI Invasive Species Compendium, CABI
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-form values; cultivars and local conditions differ.
- Grown for crimson autumn colour and corky-winged stems; bird-sown seedlings escape into woodland in the eastern US; compact cultivars stay near 1.5 m.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Japanese spindle (masaki) Euonymus japonicus
- Bigleaf hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla
- Rhododendron Rhododendron
- Boxwood Buxus sempervirens
- Oleander Nerium oleander
- Common ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
- Camellia Camellia japonica
- Gardenia Gardenia jasminoides