Abundantly planted, this shrub native to China, Japan, and Korea is increasingly escaping from cultivation into urban/suburban woodlands in North Carolina. It is a problem invasive exotic in the northeastern US and may become a problem here, too. The photo at left was taken in Price Park in Greensboro, NC, where it is a common escape.

Greensboro, NC 5/15/10.

Winged Burning Bush is similar to the native Euonymus americanus, but shorter in stature, more compact, and frequently with distinctively winged stems.

Greensboro, NC 5/15/10.

The common name "Burning Bush" refers to the brilliant red fall color. Other common names include Winged Euonymus and Winged Spindletree.

Duke University campus, Durham, NC 4/30/07.

The thin tan-colored corky wings contrast strongly with the green stems.

Durham, NC 4/30/07.