Euonymus occidentalis

Common Names

Western Burning Bush, Western Wahoo, Burning Bush, Wahoo

Summary

Euonymus occidentalis is a western North American native shrub or small tree, 2–6 m tall, with slender branches and opposite, deciduous leaves 3–14 cm long on 3–15 mm petioles; it bears 1–5-flowered inflorescences with purple-brown petals and a central nectar disk about 3 mm wide, and the fruit is a depressed, deeply 3-lobed capsule containing brown seeds 4–6 mm with a red aril, with two California varieties, var. occidentalis and var. parishii, described under common names Western Burning Bush and Western Wahoo. It is noted for its distinctive fruit capsule and red aril seeds, and is known to be toxic if ingested.

In cultivation, it grows in moist woods and along streambanks, preferring full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soils but tolerating a range of soil moisture conditions and temperatures down to 5°F; it can be used as a hedge and provides wildlife food, with fruits and seeds eaten by birds and small mammals. Propagation is possible from hardwood cuttings in early spring or layering, and seeds require 3–4 months of stratification at 32–50°F (0–10°C) before sowing. Parts of the plant are toxic to humans and animals if ingested, so placement should minimize accessibility.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6.5-19.5 feet

Spread

8 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 8a-10b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full Sun, tolerates Partial Shade to Full Shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained loamy soil (slightly acidic to neutral pH).

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

6.0-7.0, slightly acidic to neutral (around 6.5)

Bloom Color

purple-brown

Bloom Time

May–June (spring, late spring to early summer)

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow to orange-red

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts butterflies, other pollinators, and birds