#winged spindle

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Saturday 25 October 2025

More autumnal foliage colours from Euonymus alatus (winged spindle) with the addition of conspicuous corky wings to the branches. In summer there are small, greenish flowers followed by purplish-red fruits splitting to reveal orange seeds.

Jill Raggett

[michael-massa-micon]

Burning Bush - October 2024 I wasn’t able to answer Kathy’s question when she asked what these bright red bushes around town were. They are Burning Bushes, actually Euonymus alatus, also known as winged spindle or winged euonymus. They are native to central and northern China, Japan, and Korea and have been imported into the United States as a decorative plant. Like many plant imports, they are terrible for the environment here and quickly displace native shrubs, vegetation, and even trees. They are so invasive that their importation, sale, possession, or cultivation is prohibited in the states of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. Evidently they don’t bother corn or soybeans because the Midwestern states have not yet moved to ban them. MWM

[picothenico]

[judith]

winged spindle ... would leonardo love this burning bush, bright wings of red leaves, flying through the air, these berries swinging gently, with a swoosh, and festive bokeh, nearly everywhere ...