Burning Bush—Color Fleeting, Environmental Impact Lasting

©Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

In autumn, we marvel at the spectacular colors provided by our native trees and shrubs. Many home landscapes also include non-native ornamental trees and shrubs. Unfortunately, some have escaped cultivation and are wreaking havoc with our environment. Burning bush is one such plant, widely planted for its bright red fall color. Burning bush, Euonymus alatus, also known as winged euonymus, is a deciduous shrub native to Eastern China. It has corky wing-like stems and can grow up to 15 feet tall. Burning bush is considered an exotic invasive plant because it has invaded wooded areas, especially hardwood forests, forming dense thickets to outcompete and displace native species, aided by its extremely dense and complex root system.

Some might argue that the burning bush in their home landscape doesn’t appear to spread.  However, you only have to look into any woodland this time of year to see the truth. Forest understories are completely covered with burning bush, a muted-pink monoculture. This is because burning bush produces hundreds of berries containing viable seeds that are wildly dispersed by birds and other wildlife. These monocultures do not support healthy ecosystems. Diversity of plant species is essential for an ecosystem to function—providing nutrient cycling, pollination, and biomass production. High plant diversity also improves soil temperature and moisture levels which can enhance resistance to environmental challenges like drought.
 
Harm to Birds
Fruit from invasive species has lower nutritional value for birds than native fruit. Research shows that birds prefer native fruits that provide needed fat and energy over invasive fruits, even when natives are few in numbers. This suggests invasive fruits will not sufficiently replace native fruits as food for migrating and wintering birds.  Therefore, we must limit the spread of invasives to ensure our native plant communities can thrive and continue to provide this vital food resource.
 
It's shocking to see that burning bush is still readily available at garden centers because its invasive threat has long been known - shown by scientific evaluation to be invasive and listed on the CT Invasive Plant List for at least a decade. Burning bush is regulated in New York, and prohibited from sale in Massachusetts.
 
UConn has developed a burning bush they say is incapable of producing viable seeds. However, it is not clear if a sufficient amount of time has passed to ensure this shrub will not revert back to fertility. Meanwhile, this shrub continues to be added to our landscapes. Perhaps the Invasive Plant Council (IPC) has reservations because this summer, they moved to phase out and ban burning bush in Connecticut but did not commit to making allowance for sterile cultivars. As of October 2028, burning bush is prohibited from importation, movement, sale, purchase, transplanting, cultivation and distribution.
 
Alternatives
Why choose a non-native shrub whose only attribute is short-season attraction—no attractive flowers, no winter interest, no ecosystem value or benefit to wildlife. When replacing or adding shrubs to your landscape for fall color and so much more, consider natives such as Highbush Blueberry, Chokeberry, Viburnums, Fragrant Sumac, Spicebush, Northern Bayberry and Witch-hazel.
 
Control
If you have burning bush, there are options for removing it. Young plants can be pulled or dug. For larger plants in low-density invasions, a root-wrenching tool can be useful. Cutting large plants at ground level will cause burning bush to resprout shoots from the base, making it more difficult to treat later on. Foliar herbicide treatments are an option from mid-May through October. Basal bark and stump treatment (on fresh cut) can be done all year as weather permits. Always a good idea to consult a licensed pesticide applicator. More information can be found at the Penn State Extension website.

The Newtown Conservation Commission is actively working to encourage healthy habitats and increase the diversity of our native wildlife and vegetation. www.newtownconservation.org