Euonymus Burning Bush Alata Compacta 6.04G / 22.86L

Euonymus alatus 'Compactus', commonly known as Compact Burning Bush or Dwarf-Winged Burning Bush, is a deciduous shrub in the Celastraceae family prized for its spectacular scarlet-red fall foliage. This #7 container (approximately 6.04 gallons / 22.86 liters) specimen is ready for landscape planting.

This compact cultivar typically grows 8 to 11 feet tall with a spread of 8 to 14 feet, forming a dense, rounded, multi-stemmed habit. It thrives in full sun to partial shade in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 8, tolerating a wide range of soil types including clay, loam, and sand. It is drought tolerant once established and resistant to compaction and erosion. The plant features elliptic to obovate medium to dark green leaves in spring and summer that transform to vivid red-burgundy in autumn. Small inconspicuous yellow-green flowers bloom in late spring, followed by ornamental reddish-purple capsules in fall that split open to reveal orange-red seeds attractive to songbirds.

This plant is easy to transplant and responds well to pruning to maintain a smaller size. Stems display distinctive corky ridges or wings that add winter interest after leaf drop. It is tolerant of black walnut and performs well as an accent, border, or foundation planting. Note that all parts of this plant are toxic if ingested in large quantities and it can be invasive in some eastern and midwestern regions of the United States.