What flower is that?

Photo credit: Garry Plunkett

Fall is the time to see this widespread native shrub. That’s when its small, nondescript summer flowers produce the brilliant purple-red, four lobed fruit. As the fruit matures the outer skin splits to reveal an orange seed, creating a two-toned effect. The kinship of this plant to winged euonymous is evident in the subdued wings seen on its young shoots.

 

It’s…

Botanical Name:		Euonymous atropurpureus
Common Name:		Eastern Wahoo or Burning Bush
Family:		Celastraceae  (Bittersweet family)
Habitat:		Understory shrub usually found in moist woods and along streams