Native plants for wetlands, fields or forests and an eclectic mix of other botanic delights

Euonymus americanus

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Status
In Stock
Hearts-a-Bustin', Strawberry Bush, Rabbit Bush
Unusually Interesting Fall Fruit
Mature Size:
' Height /
' Spread
Expected Size:
4'-6'
/
2'-4'
Light Preference:
Sun to Part Sun
Soil Preference:
Moist (Mesic)
Price:
$12.50/1 qt.; $22.50/1 gal.

Euonymus americanus, commonly known as Strawberry Bush or Hearts-a-Bustin', is a multi-stemmed, suckering, deciduous shrub that typically grows to 4-6’ tall. It is native to wooded slopes, moist understory forest areas, low sandy woods, ravines and streambanks from New York south to Florida and west through Pennsylvania to Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and eastern Texas.

It is somewhat sprawling when young, but becomes more erect as it matures. It features green stems, medium green leaves with fine marginal teeth, inconspicuous 5-petaled greenish-yellow flowers from the leaf axils in May-June and warty crimson red fall fruits purportedly resembling strawberries hence the common name of strawberry bush. Thin spreading branches are clad with oblong to elliptic leaves (to 3” long) with crenulate margins, narrow to rounded bases and sharply pointed tips. Each leaf has 5-7 pairs of ascending veins which disappear prior to reaching the margins. Leaves turn dark orange-red in fall. Spring flowers are relatively inconspicuous and bloom from the leaf axils on pedicils to 1” long. Each flower (1/3” across) has 5 pale green to greenish yellow petals with purple stamens. Most flowers in the genus have 4 petals, but this species has 5. Although the flowers are not showy, they are followed in fall by extremely showy, warty, crimson red fall fruits (to 3/4” diameter). Each fruit is a 5-lobed capsule which splits open when ripe (hence the sometimes used common name of bursting heart).

There are no serious insect or disease problems. Watch for euonymus scale. Deer do enjoy to the foliage of this plant.

Applicable to foundations and perhaps a hedge. Specimen/accent, Group/massing. Native woodland plantings and Woodland margins.

If protected, we have seen this plant grow to 7' tall.

Information adapted from: Missouri Botanical Garden

Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
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Information

Prices listed are subject to change, based upon size change and availability.

We are a small local nursery with limited shipping capability. We will do our best to ship smaller material (usually 1 or 2 gallon), although we can sometimes ship larger plants with the pots removed.

We have some species that are not listed, as we have too few of them to make a full listing plausible. You can always inquire.

We will consider contract growing an order with appropriate advance notice and availability of seed, cuttings or lining out stock.

Fall Business Hours
Monday
10 - 6
Tuesday
10 - 6
Wednesday
By Appointment
Thursday
10- 6
Friday
10- 5
Saturday
10 - 5
Sunday
11- 4
Kollar Nursery | 5200 West Heaps Road, Pylesville, MD 21132 | 410.836.0500
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