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Euonymus occidentalis

Phonetic Spelling
yoo-ON-ih-mus ok-sih-den-TAY-liss
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Western Burning Bush is a species of Euonymus, or Spindletree, a genus of deciduous or evergreen flowering shrubs. The parent plant is native to East Asia, but species are widely distributed in Canada and the continental United State. In nature, the Western Burning Bush it is often found in mixed deciduous forests or natural areas in low woodlands, deep moist woods, shaded stream banks and canyons and is the only member of its genus growing wild. Western Burning Bush is a mounding deciduous shrub or small tree native to western North America. This plant can be difficult to find, even in its native western states.

Western Burning Bush prefers full sun to partial shade and moist sandy loam soils, although it can be grown in a wide variety of soils, including clay, and tolerates drought, some shade, and wet soils to a degree. It will tolerate temperatures down to 5 degrees F. Fruits and seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals. In the landscape, Burning Bush is typically sited in cool, shaded woodland gardens or higher elevation, forested gardens.

Insects, diseases, and other plant problems:

Susceptible to scale, anthracnose, powdery mildew, and crown gall.

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:
Tags:
#deciduous#drought tolerant#shrub#clay soils tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#hedge#wildlife friendly#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#drought tolerant#shrub#clay soils tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#hedge#wildlife friendly#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Euonymus
    Species:
    occidentalis
    Family:
    Celastraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Western Canada to California
    Distribution:
    California, Washington State, Oregon, and British Columbia.
    Fire Risk Rating:
    low flammability
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Edibility:
    Many parts of the plant are toxic to humans.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Poisonous
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Mounding
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Deeply 3-lobed, smooth pink or purple fruit with brown seeds. The fruit is a rounded capsule with three bulging lobes. It opens to reveal one seed in each of the three lobes. The seed in concealed in a red aril.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Pink
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long Bloom Season
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Purple-brown flowers, finely dotted with a transparent margin. Five small flowers at the end of a long peduncle. Each flower has five rounded pink to brown and white mottled petals around a central nectar disc with 5 nubs. Flowers bloom from March to August.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Shape:
    Obovate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    The thin, green, oval-shaped leaves are up to a half inch long and sometimes rolled under along the edges, ovate to obovate, with a tapered base.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    The erect branches are slender and often climbing. Young branches are 4-angled, not corky winged.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Riparian
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Flowering Tree
    Hedge
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Problems:
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Toxic only if eaten in large quantities. Can cause vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, chills, coma, and convulsions. Heart rhythm abnormalities with large doses.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Alkaloids, Cardenolides
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Bark
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Roots
    Sap/Juice
    Seeds
    Stems