Euonymus americana - Hearts-a-bursting
Family Celastraceae
Description:
About 170 or more species of Euonymus are native to Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. This species is native to the eastern United States west to Oklahoma and Missouri. It has opposite leaves, mostly at the tips of the slender stems. Flowers are very small and greenish in color. The distinctive characteristic of the plant is the large pink-red capsule that splits into three segments and displays orange-red seeds in autumn.
Location:
See this plant in moist natural areas including the Lake Oneida boardwalk.
Size:
Shrub or tree to about six feet tall or more.
Care Instructions:
Light: part shade, shade
Water: moist soil
Soil: adaptable to soil types, no other special requirements
This is an open, straggly shrub that is best suited for naturalistic gardens. It seems adaptable provided the site is not too sunny or too dry.