| SOURCE:
The following information on this species is taken from the Delaware River
Invasive Plant Partnership, Invasive Plant Fact Sheets,
http://www.paflora.org/DRIPP.html. Modifications include additional
pictures (from www.invasives.org,
http://invasives.eeb.uconn.edu/ipane/ and
http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/index.html) and resource information. Check
the website links for future updates. The last update for this fact sheet is
April, 2002. |
NATIVE RANGE:
China and Japan.
DESCRIPTION:
Winged euonymus is a deciduous shrub. Height - It is relatively fast-growing
reaching a height (and width) of 15-20 feet. Compact forms that reach only 5-10
feet are common in the nursery trade. Bark - The bark is gray-brown and the
stems usually have 2-4 prominent, corky wings. In some cultivars, these wings
can be reduced to mere ridges.
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Buds - The leaf buds are brownish-green, and
strongly divergent.
Leaves - The leaves are opposite, elliptic, and measure 1-3 inches long and
½-1½ inches wide with fine, sharp serrations on the margin. In autumn the dark
green leaves turn brilliant purplish-red to scarlet before dropping; the color
is less intense on plants growing in the shade.
Flowers - In Pennsylvania the flowers bloom in late April in the south to late
June in northern counties. The flowers are small, yellowish green in color, and
inconspicuous.
Fruit - The smooth, purplish fruits are ½ inch-long capsules that split open in
September and October exposing four red to orange seeds, which are eaten by
birds.
Roots - Winged euonymus has a dense, fibrous root system.
DISTRIBUTION
AND HABITAT:
Winged euonymus was introduced into the USA from northeastern Asia about 1860
for use as an ornamental shrub and is hardy to USDA Zone 4. The bright red fall
foliage makes this shrub a popular ornamental; it is commonly planted along
interstate highways, as hedges, and in foundation plantings. While it behaves
well in urban areas, burning-bush planted near woodlands, mature second-growth
forests, and pastures can be a problem. It has escaped from cultivation in the
Northeast and Midwest, notably in Connecticut, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and
Illinois.
The earliest evidence of naturalized populations
of winged euonymus in eastern Pennsylvania dates from the 1960s. Today it is
found with increasing frequency in moist forests throughout eastern counties.
EFFECTS OF
INVASION:
Winged euonymus is a threat to mature forests and successional fields and
woodlands because it out-competes native species. It is adaptable to various
environmental conditions although it generally does not do well in very dry
areas. It grows well in a variety of soil types and pH levels, has no serious
pest problems in North America, and most importantly of all, is tolerant of
full shade. It has invaded moist forested sites creating dense thickets that
can shade out native herbs and shrubs.
REPRODUCTION
AND METHODS OF DISPERSAL: Seed production is prodigious; many germinate where they fall
close to the mother plant creating dense beds of seedlings. Others are spread
by birds that are attracted to the seeds by their nutritious, fleshy, red
covering (aril). Seeds dispersed this way germinate easily and spread the
infestation rapidly. Wide usage of this a popular landscape ornamental
increases the probability that more will escape from cultivation.
LANDSCAPE
ALTERNATIVES:
Winged euonymus is a very popular landscape ornamental; however, it should not
be planted anywhere near native forest stands because of its invasiveness and
prolific seed production. The following native shrubs are suggested as
alternatives: winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata), red chokeberry (Aronia
arbutifolia), Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica), arrow-wood (Viburnum
recognitum or V. dentatum), blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium),
gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa), kinnikinik (Cornus amomum),
ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius), witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana),
bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica).
For more information
on winged euonymus, please contact:
Delaware River Invasive Plant Partnership,
http://www.paflora.org/DRIPP.html.
Invasive Plant Atlas of New England,
http://invasives.eeb.uconn.edu/ipane/
Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council, Inc., http://www.ma-eppc.org
National Invasive Species Information Center,
http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov
Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas,
http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/
The Bugwood Network, MA-EPPC Plant List,
http://www.invasive.org/maweeds.cfm
The Nature Conservancy, Invasive Species Initiative,
http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs.html
USDA Forest Service, Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests,
http://www.invasive.org/eastern/srs/
USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, Invasive Plants: Weeds of the Week,
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive_plants/weeds/
USDA - NRCS PLANTS Database, http://plants.usda.gov/
REFERENCES:
Rhoads, Ann Fowler and Timothy A. Block. 2000. The Plants of Pennsylvania: An
Illustrated Manual. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, PA.
Rhoads, Ann Fowler and William McKinley Klein. 1993. The Vascular Flora of
Pennsylvania: Annotated Checklist and Atlas. American Philosophical Society,
Philadelphia, PA.
Management and
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