Eastern Wahoo Euonymus atropurpureus
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Euonymus atropurpurea
- Euonymus caroliniensis
- Phonetic Spelling
- yoo-ON-ih-mus at-ro-pur-PURR-ee-us
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Eastern Wahoo is a large, gangly, deciduous shrub or small tree in the bittersweet family that is native to central and eastern United States. It is relatively rare in North Carolina, but can be found scattered in the Piedmont and mountain areas. Its native habitat is moist, open woods, stream banks, and and thickets. The best specimens are found in deep rich humus soils, limstone soils, and stream bottoms and woods.
Eastern Wahoo prefers dappled sunlight to light shade, moist to mesic conditions, and a fertile loamy soil; however, it tolerates most soil types as long as they are well-drained. It can be grown in full sun to partial shade. It is particularly suited to dry shaded areas and requires shade from the midday sun. It is a moderately fast-growing but short-lived tree in the wild. In cultivation, it is often used as a hedge or screen in or naturalized and woodland settings.
The flowers appear in spring and are not very ornamental. The bright red fruits that mature in fall and the leaves that become yellow or red are the shrub's best feature. The epithet, atropurpureus, means dark purple in reference to the color of the fruits and fall foliage.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
As with most of the Euonymus species, Eastern Wahoo is susceptible to scale. Protection from deer and rabbits may be needed.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Euonymus
- Species:
- atropurpureus
- Family:
- Celastraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Bark, leaves and fruits were formerly used for medicinal purposes; however, all parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America, Canada and Eastern United States.
- Distribution:
- Ontario and Nova Scotia south to Florida and west to Montana, Texas, and Nebraska.
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds are attracted to the fruits. Flowers attract small bees and flies. Caterpillars of moths feed on the leaves.
- Edibility:
- Toxic in large amounts.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- 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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- The flowers are replaced by 4-lobed seed capsules that become mature during the fall. Each seed capsule splits open into four parts to expose fleshy red fruits) that each contain two seeds. The seed capsules are light pink or pale purple with a smooth surface; they later become more dark-colored. The seeds are light brown with a smooth surface.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Insignificant
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small forking cymes of 7 to 20 flowers develop from the axils of current or former leaves. Each flower is about 1/3 of an inch across, consisting of 4 spreading petals, 4 sepals, 4 short stamens with yellow anthers, and a pistil with a short stout style. The petals are reddish purple and oval in shape, while the smaller sepals are greenish purple and oval. The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer and lasts about a month.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are opposite, simple, and elliptical, 2 1/2 to 4 inches long and 4 inches across, and finely serrated. Leaf pairs develop along young shoots and smaller branches. The upper surface of each leaf is dark green and hairless, while the lower surface is pale green and finely pubescent.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Bumpy
- Bark Description:
- Central trunk and larger branches are covered with a thin, rough gray bark. Smaller branches are dull green with thin vertical stripes of gray bark. Young shoots are entirely green.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Description:
- Young shoots or small branches can be terete (round in cross-section) or 4-angled.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Compaction
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
