Euonymus alatus 'Compactus'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- Euonymus alatus 'Compactus'
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
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The Dwarf Winged Burning Bush is a cultivar of Burning Bush, with the formal name Euonymus alatus 'Compactus'. It is a deciduous shrub that, as its name implies, is a relatively more compact version of Burning Bush. Unlike Burning Bush, which can reach heights of 20 feet, the 'Compactus' cultivar is a more manageable 10 feet tall; however, it is important to verify that the 'Compactus' part of the plant name is present to obtain the smaller version of Euonymous alata. Note that there is an even more compact cultivar is E. alatus 'Rudy Haag’ that is limited to a height of 3 to 5 feet. All versions of Burning Bush can be kept shorter by pruning and can easily be transplanted.
Dwarf Winged Burning Bush is easy to grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. It will tolerate shade and drought, but the less sun available to the plant, the less dramatic fall color will be. The plant does not do well in wet, poorly-drained sites, but it does prefer consistent moisture. It tolerates a variety of soils. Like its larger species, the 'Compactus' cultivar's densely packed leaves offer bright red color in the fall, a rounded form, and small, inconspicuous flowers that bloom in late spring. These flowers develop into reddish-purple, 3/8 inch oval berries in the fall.
Because ingesting large quantities of this plant are poisonous, no part of this plant, including the fruits, should be eaten, especially by children. Also, this shrub can be invasive if planted in less well tended native or similar gardens where it can spread into surrounding roadside or woodland areas. This is more likely in western North Carolina.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Twig blight can occur in wet soil conditions and spider mites can be a problem.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Mountain Ridge Top Garden - North Lawn and Upper Drive Border
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Euonymus
- Species:
- alatus
- Family:
- Celastraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Russia, Japan, China, Korea
- Distribution:
- Throughout the eastern and central United States.
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruit attracts birds who eat the seeds and distribute them. The fall berries are eaten by birds, and the seeds are easily spread by birds. It is attractive to deer. This plant is frequently damaged by deer. Host plant to many types of beetle.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- range of soil types; drought tolerant
- Edibility:
- Can be toxic if ingested.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 11 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 11 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- 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 Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/3 inch capsules split open when ripe to reveal tiny seeds (each encased in a fleshy orange-red aril).
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- This plant has non-showy, small 4-petaled greenish-maroon flowers. A 3-flowered cyme, axillary. Inconspicuous, small, 3/8 inch, 4 petals, yellow-green.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenulate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Elliptic to obovate, crenulate to serrulate, opposite to sub-opposite, simple leaves that are 1 to 3 inches long and 1/2 to 1 inch wide, and medium to dark green. They can be finely serrated. Leaves provide excellent red fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Bark Description:
- The bark of large old stems is gray or brownish gray and slightly furrowed.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems have corky ridges (or wings, as used in the common name) that are more noticeable in winter after leaf drop.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Compaction
- Drought
- Erosion
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Children
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Poisonous through ingestion. Symptoms: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, weakness, chills, coma. TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. Ingesting large amounts of any part of the plant can result in poisoning. CHILDREN may be attracted to fruits in fall. No part of this plant is edible, including seeds.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Unidentified, possibly a glycoside
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
