Strawberry Bush, Hearts-A-Bursting, Bursting-heart, Fish-wood, Burning-bush, Brook Euonymus Euonymus americana

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Celastraceae

Strawberry bush grows in rich bottomlands, moist woods and along streams in East Texas eastward to Florida and north to New York. It is a loose, suckering shrub with dark green leaves, a sparse growth habit, crooked green stems and greenish-purple flowers from May to June. Its spectacular attribute is the fruits that appear in the fall: red warty capsules that split open to reveal the scarlet seeds inside, giving it its common name of "hearts-a-bursting". The contrast of the fruit against the dark green foliage makes it a particularly garden-worthy ornamental. Strawberry bush is an understory shrub that can take a lot of shade and poorly-drained soil, but it can also survive on less moisture than in its native habitat. Many species of birds eat the fruit. It is reportedly susceptible to euonymus scale.

Plant Habit or Use: medium shrub

Exposure: partial sun
shade

Flower Color: greenish purple

Blooming Period: spring

Fruit Characteristics: crimson warty capsule with red seeds

Height: to 6 feet

Width: to 4 feet

Plant Character: deciduous

Heat Tolerance: medium

Water Requirements:

Soil Requirements: adaptable

USDA Hardiness Zone: 6

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