10/14/2026
Yes, it's "pretty" but burning bush (Euonymus alatus) really IS invasive and ecologically harmful. Our bird friends eat the seeds from your shrubs and then fly off & spread them in parks and preserves where they grow quickly & displace the native plants our pollinators and other wildlife need to survive. In shady woodland settings, burning bush often doesn’t turn that fiery red at all. Instead, look for its signature “winged” stems: cork-like ridges (see photos).
DOUBTERS, JOIN US! At our next volunteer opportunity on the fourth Friday (October 23), we’ll be removing invasive burning bush that has taken over parts of one of our county’s most beloved nature preserves: Spring Valley Nature Preserve. More info: https://www.lickingpollinatorpathway.org/events
Ready to replace your burning bush (or other invasive plant) in your landscape? Leaves for Wildlife Native Plant Nursery offers a FREE native plant when you remove an invasive from your yard and share about it. Check out their FB post for deets!
We hope this inspires more folks to remove invasive plants and make room for the native species our local wildlife depends on. Now get hacking! 🪓
