Resources < Wildlife Habitats < Guide to Native Plants of Georgia for Wildlife < Euonymus americanus

Hearts A 'Bustin'
Euonymus americanus

One of the woodland garden’s most intriguing plants, American euonymus has a look that’s totally unique. First of all, there are the stems, which stay green all year round, even in the middle of winter after the leaves drop. Then there’s the habit, so wild, airy, and free that it makes those other, more famous euonymus species (Euonymus alatus, Euonymus japonicus, etc.) look downright stiff and stodgy. Finally, and most importantly, there are the fruits. These are funny, warty, idiosyncratic little things. Bright red and somewhat reminiscent of strawberries or raspberries, they burst open in September and October to expose brilliant orange, clinging seeds.

The combination of bright red fruit and bright orange seed may sound a little gaudy to us, but birds find it very attractive. Wild turkeys, eastern bluebirds, mockingbirds, wood thrushes, fox sparrows, and yellow-rumped warblers flock to American euonymus, devouring the oily fruits and dispersing the seed for future generations. Deer find the foliage to be just about as enticing. In fact, the leaves are so hard for these browsers to pass up that American euonymus is sometimes referred to as "deer ice cream."

Family:  Celastraceae (Spindletree Family)

Description: Medium-sized deciduous shrub with green stems and 1 to 4", elliptical, medium green leaves. Small greenish yellow flowers appear in late spring. Bumpy red fruits split open in fall to reveal bright orange seeds. Fall leaf color ranges from cream to red.

Size: 3 to 6’ tall and 3’ wide.

Habit: Loose, open, airy shrub with a tendency to sucker.

Growth Rate: Slow.

Light: Shade to part shade.

Planting and Care: Plant in moist, well-drained, acid soil rich with humus.

Ornamental Value: Assets include unusual green stems; an open, airy habit; unique strawberry-like fruit with reddish-orange exposed seeds; and yellow to red fall color.

Landscape Usage: Plant as a specimen or in groups in the shrub border or woodland garden.

Wildlife Benefits: Leaves are browsed by deer and rabbits. Seeds are eaten by a number of birds.

Native Habitat: Found along streams in moist woods of the Piedmont, mountains, and Coastal Plain.

Propagation: Layering, grafting, budding, stratified seed, semi-hardwood cuttings.

Also known as Bursting Heart, Strawberry Bush, Indian Arrowwood, American Euonymus, Brook Euonymus, Wahoo

Text and photo by Leslie Kimel, Georgia Wildlife Federation