Invasive Species Spotlight

from Wildflower Association of Michigan Environmental Advocacy Committee Bulletin #4

Euonymus alatus, commonly known as burning bush or winged euonymus, is originally from northeastern Asia and was introduced into the United States as a desirable shrub in the 1860s. Some of the unique features which made this species a common fixture in urban and suburban landscapes is its attractive growth habit, corky-winged stems, brilliant scarlet autumn leaves and orange-red berries. Almost all of the new growth of Euonymus alatus occurs in the spring. It grows in a wide range of exposures from full sun to full shade and tolerates a broad range of soil types and soil pH. The species is monecious (producing perfect flowers on the same plant in May and June) and can self-fertilize and produce viable seeds from July through October. The berries can be transported over great distances by birds or other berry-consuming animals. Burning bush also commonly multiplies via vegetative reproduction through root suckering and layering. Herbivore browsing of burning bush is relatively light. Burning bush leafs out earlier than most deciduous native shrubs and the leaves persist well into November. Euonymus alatus has become a significant invasive species in the United States and is commonly seen growing in forest understories, open fields, roadsides and walking paths.

Euonymus alatus is either prohibited (P) or restricted (R) for sale in the following Great Lakes states: Wisconsin (P), Minnesota (R), Illinois (R), Indiana (P) and Pennsylvania (P). Some common cultivars of Euonymus alatus that are sold in nurseries include 'compactus', 'Rudy Haag', 'pipsqueak', 'apterus' and 'monstrosus'. E. alatus is not the only Euonymus species sold in Michigan that is highly invasive. Euonymus fortunei, also known as winter creeper or creeping euonymus, is also sold in Michigan nurseries, usually as the cultivar 'emerald n gold'.

Management of burning bush includes mechanical removal and herbicide treatment. Smaller bushes can be hand pulled or slightly larger bushes can be removed with a root wrenching tool. Herbicide treatment includes both foliar spraying (late May through early October) and by stump cut and basal bark treatments (all year).

Look-alikes to E. alatus include our native Euonymus species (E. americanus, E. atropurpureus and E. obovatus) which all lack the corky wings of the invasive E. alatus.

Some great alternatives to planting burning bush include eastern wahoo (Euonymus atropurpureus), black and red chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa and Aronia arbutifolia) and ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius).

Six more invasive plant species have been recommended for addition to Michigan's prohibited and restricted species list: common buckthorn, glossy buckthorn, callery pear, Japanese barberry, water hyacinth, and water lettuce. The proposal is under consideration by the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Natural Resources Commission.

WAMEAC was established in 2024 and serves as the environmental advocacy arm of the Wildflower Association of Michigan, with a goal of educating the public about invasive plant species in Michigan, offer alternatives, and enact legislation to ban the sale and trade of high-priority invasive species in our state. Learn more at wildflowersmich.org.