Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)

Invasive Management Profile

Burning Bush is widely used as a hedge plant but has started to invade our Indiana forests. Although Burning Bush is known for its leaves turning bright red in the fall, don’t confuse it with other native red bushes such as the Eastern Wahoo and Strawberry Bush. Because Burning Bush is a beautiful color-changing bush, it is still sold in some stores in Indiana, so please make sure to read all labels to ensure you are not buying this harmful and invasive plant.

Identification

Burning Bush is a deciduous shrub, and if left unpruned, the compact bush will grow to about 12 feet tall and 15 feet wide, and the species (winged) form will grow to about 15 feet tall and 20 feet wide.  The leaves are opposite, which means they appear at the same position on the stem on each side, dark green leaves are less than a 2 inches long, with finely serrated edges and taper at the tips. Two to four corky ridges often form along the length of young stems, though they may not appear in shaded areas or closed canopies. Burning Bush blooms from April to June with small yellowish green flowers. Burning Bush does have small purple/red fruits, although these are hard to find among the bright red leaves in the fall. The fruit matures from September to October, then splits to reveal an orange seed.

Tools & Supplies Needed

• Shovel and/or spade
• Handsaw and/or lopper 
• Protective eyewear, gloves, and clothing
• Paper or plastic bags for disposal

Removal Methods

Disposal 

Burning Bush can be used as mulch or composted as long as the plant is completely dead when doing so. Place the removed plant on a tarp to dry in the sun. Make sure to bag all seeds and flowers to prevent seed dispersal. Small sapling shrubs can be disposed of in the trash and will be picked up through regular trash collection. Large Burning Bush shrubs can be picked up through heavy trash collection provided they are tied into bundles no larger than 3 feet by 3 feet. Heavy trash collection guidelines and monthly pick-up days for your address can be found here.

Beyond trash collection services, you may need to either hire someone to come and remove the yard waste generated from your Burning Bush removal or haul the waste away yourself. Many landscaping companies will accept yard waste for a small cost. They then process this material into mulch or compost. Click here to learn more about tree removal services in your area.

Native Alternative Species

To learn more about natives and how to landscape with them click here.