Leaf
Kjoonlee, Wikimedia · CC BY 4.0
Winged spindle
Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Siebold
Also known as: Burning bush, Winged euonymus
Family: Celastraceae
2 to 3 m tall
Borders, free-draining soil; planted almost exclusively for its blazing autumn colour
Flowering: May (inconspicuous flowering)
Full sun
Part shade
Hardy to about -25°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Its stems bear wing-shaped corky ridges, visible even in winter without leaves — an identification feature as reliable as its blazing autumn colour, hence its common name 'burning bush'.
🍃 Leaves
Deciduous, elliptical, toothed, mid-green turning a spectacular scarlet red in autumn
🌸 Flowers
Small, greenish, inconspicuous
🍎 Fruits
Small red capsules opening to reveal orange seeds, in autumn
🪵 Bark
Stems bearing wing-shaped corky ridges, visible even in winter
🗺️ Distribution
Native to East Asia (China, Japan, Korea)
🐝 Value for pollinators
Inconspicuous flowering, limited interest
✂️ Horticultural uses
Planted for its spectacular bright red autumn colour and its decorative winged stems in winter
⚠️ Possible toxicity
All parts (leaves, fruits and seeds) contain toxic cardiac glycosides; eating a few leaves or seeds generally causes digestive upset, while eating a large amount may cause heart problems.
🌿 Other Celastraceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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