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Euonymus americanus L.
bursting-heart

 

Kingdom  Plantae -- Plants

Subkingdom  Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants

Superdivision  Spermatophyta -- Seed plants

Division  Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants

Class  Magnoliopsida -- Dicotyledons

Subclass  Rosidae

Order  Celastrales

Family  Celastraceae -- Bittersweet family

Genus  Euonymus L. -- spindletree P

Species  Euonymus americanus L. -- bursting-heart P

 

SYNONYM INFORMATION

 

Summary
Duration	Perennial
Growth Habit	Forb/herb, Subshrub
U.S. Nativity	Native to U.S.
Federal T/E Status
National Wetland Indicator	FACU, FACW
Morphology/Physiology
Active Growth Period	Spring and Summer
After Harvest Regrowth Rate
Bloat
C:N Ratio	Medium
Coppice Potential	No
Fall Conspicuous	Yes
Fire Resistant	Yes
Flower Color	Green
Flower Conspicuous	No
Foliage Color	Dark Green
Foliage Porosity Summer	Porous
Foliage Porosity Winter	Porous
Foliage Texture	Fine
Fruit/Seed Color	Yellow
Fruit/Seed Conspicuous	Yes
Growth Form	Multiple Stem
Growth Rate	Moderate
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (feet)	8
Height, Mature (feet)	6.0
Known Allelopath	No
Leaf Retention	No
Lifespan	Moderate
Low Growing Grass	No
Nitrogen Fixation	None
Resprout Ability	Yes
Shape and Orientation	Erect
Toxicity	None
Growth Requirements
Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils	Yes
Adapted to Fine Textured Soils	Yes
Adapted to Medium Textured Soils	Yes
Anaerobic Tolerance	Low
CaCO3 Tolerance	None
Cold Stratification Required	Yes
Drought Tolerance	None
Fertility Requirement	Medium
Fire Tolerance	Medium
Frost Free Days, Minimum	120
Hedge Tolerance	High
Moisture Use	High
pH, Minimum	5.0
pH, Maximum	6.0
Planting Density per Acre, Minimum	100
Planting Density per Acre, Maximum	200
Precipitation, Minimum	35
Precipitation, Maximum	70
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)	8
Salinity Tolerance	None
Shade Tolerance	Intermediate
Temperature, Minimum (°F)	-23
Reproduction
Bloom Period	Late Spring
Commercial Availability	Routinely Available
Fruit/Seed Abundance	Medium
Fruit/Seed Period Begin	Summer
Fruit/Seed Period End	Fall
Fruit/Seed Persistence	Yes
Propagated by Bare Root	Yes
Propagated by Bulb	No
Propagated by Container	Yes
Propagated by Corm	No
Propagated by Cuttings	Yes
Propagated by Seed	Yes
Propagated by Sod	No
Propagated by Sprigs	No
Propagated by Tubers	No
Seed per Pound	35100
Seed Spread Rate	Slow
Seedling Vigor	Medium
Small Grain	No
Vegetative Spread Rate
Suitability/Use
Berry/Nut/Seed Product	No
Christmas Tree Product	No
Fodder Product	No
Fuelwood Product
Lumber Product	No
Naval Store Product	No
Nursery Stock Product	Yes
Palatable Browse Animal	Low
Palatable Graze Animal	Low
Palatable Human	No
Post Product	No
Protein Potential
Pulpwood Product	No
Veneer Product	No

 

Alternate Names

wahoo, bursting heart, fish wood, burning bush, hearts-a-burstin-love, brook euonymus

 

Uses

Wildlife: Strawberry bush seeds are reportedly consumed sparingly by wild turkey and some songbirds.  Leaves are readily consumed by white-tailed deer and eastern cottontail rabbit, however, strawberry bush is not abundant enough to be recognized as important in their total diet.  Strawberry bush may be considered an important indicator of deer presence because it virtually disappears in areas overstocked with deer.

 

Medicinal: The seed is a strong laxative.  A tea made from the roots is used in cases of uterine prolapse, vomiting of blood, painful urination, and stomach aches.  The bark is diuretic, expectorant, and tonic. 

It was used as a tea in the treatment of malaria, liver congestion, constipation, etc.  The powdered bark, applied to the scalp, was believed to eliminate dandruff.  An infusion of the plant has been used to stimulate menstruation and therefore should not be used by pregnant women.

 

Ornamental: Strawberry bush is an excellent ornamental species.  The leaves turn dark red in autumn.  The red capsules and scarlet arillate seeds add to the “burning effect,” contributing to several of its common names.  Strawberry bush is best used in natural settings, in the shade of larger shrubs and trees.  Large specimens can have hundreds of “bursting” red capsules.  In the winter, the bright green twigs are also attractive.

 

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

 

Description

General: Strawberry bush, family Celastraceae, is a native perennial shrub 2-6 feet high.  The leaves are egg-shaped to broadly lance-shaped, usually pointed at the base and sharply pointed at the tip, finely and sharply toothed on the margin, bright green and smooth on top, slightly paler and smooth beneath, 1 to 3.5 inches long, and almost stalkless.  The flowers are yellowish green or greenish purple, borne at the end of long stalks and appear from March to June.  The petals are 5 in number and nearly triangular in shape.  The fruits are rounded capsules with a warty surface.  The capsules split open at maturity to expose bright red seeds and take on the appearance of a strawberry, ripening in September or October.

 

Distribution: Strawberry bush is Native and occurs throughout much of the Eastern United States  (Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia).  It is also known to occur in Ontario. For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

 

Habitat: Strawberry bush grows in deciduous woods, sandy thickets, swamps, woodlands, shady edges, ravines, and stream sides.

 

Adaptation

Strawberry bush occurs in moist forests, including bottomland hardwood forests and adjacent to small streams.  Once established, it can tolerate poor drainage or moderate droughts and alkaline terrain.  However, well-drained summer irrigated beds of humus rich soil produce better growth and fruits.  Fruits grow best in partial-to-full sun, but are shade tolerant.  The species spreads by animal dispersed seeds. 

 

Establishment

Propagation by seed: Strawberry bush seeds require three months of cold treatment to germinate.  A stored seed requires 8-12 weeks warm followed by 8-16 weeks cold stratification and can be sown in cold frames.  When seedlings are large enough to handle, place the seedlings into individual pots and grow them in the greenhouse for at least their first winter.  Out-plant seedlings into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the danger of frost passes. Fruits only develop on 2 to 3-year-old plants.  Root clumps can be divided to make more plants in the winter.

 

Management

Strawberry bush tolerates different types of well- drained soils but does not tolerate drought well; water and mulch this plant in hot, dry environments.  The species requires a site receiving partial shade and can withstand heavy pruning.  No pruning is required, unless size containment is required.  Strawberry bush transplants well when it is balled and burlapped.  Winter is the optimum trimming time, but cutting can be done any time the plant is in leaf.

 

Pest and Potential Problems

Strawberry bush is extremely susceptible to Euonymus scale and crown gall.  Both of these problems are of considerable importance.

 

Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Although abundant amounts grow in the wild, the plant may require special ordering from a customer service oriented nursery.

 

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for more information.  Look in the phone book under ”United States Government.”  The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading “Department of Agriculture.”

 

References

Allen, C.M., D.A. Newman, and H.H. Winters. 2002. Trees, shrubs and woody vines of Louisiana. Allen Native Ventures, Pitkin. 

 

Britton, N.L. and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states, Canada, and the British possessions. vol. 2, ed. 2. Dover Publications, Scribner.

 

Chittenden, F.J. and P.M. Synge. 1956. Dictionary of gardening. vol. 2, ed. 2. Clarendon Press, Oxford.

 

Gleason, H.A., and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. ed. 2. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx.

 

Grimm, W.C. and J.T. Kartesz. 1993. The illustrated book of wildflowers and shrubs. Stackpole Books, Mechainsburg.

 

Justice, W. 2002. USDA- NRCS PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (https://plants.usda.gov, 30 November 2004).  National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge.

 

Louisiana State University. 2003. Louisiana ecosystems & plant identification. (https://rnrstreamer.lsu.edu/ecosystems/webtour/index.htm, 11October 2004). School of Renewable Resouces, Baton Rouge.

 

McNeely, M.R. 2003. Maggie’s garden. (https:// www.maggiesgarden.com, 2 November 2004) Fort Worth.

 

Miller, J.H. and K.V. Miller. 1999. Forest plants of the southeast and their wildlife uses. Southern Weed Science Society, Champaign.

 

Shelter, S.G. and S.S. Orli. 2000. Annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Washington- Baltimore area. part. 1. ferns, fern allies, gymnosperms, dicotyledons. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

 

Prepared By

Zakia Williams

USDA NRCS Addis Field Office, Addis, Louisiana

 

Species Coordinator

Lincoln M. Moore

USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

 

Edited: 1Dec2004 rln; 06jun06 jsp

 

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS Web site<https://plants.usda.gov> or the Plant Materials Program Web site <https://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov>

 

 

 

Attribution:  U.S. Department of Agriculture