Winged euonymus has a few of different pseudonyms; the scientific name is Euonymus alatus, but it is also often known as burning bush for its fiery red color that it gains during the fall. It is often called Winged euonymus due to the wing looking shape of the stems and leaves. Winged euonymus is considered invasive in the United States and will rarely be found in managed landscapes or habitats. However, because it was historically part of the landscape it is found prevalently on Fairsted today. It can be found within the Circle Drive, Rock Garden, as well as the very southeastern corner of the property. It is a shrub that can grow to the relatively large height of fifteen to twenty feet. It can also grow to about the same diameter. Winged euonymus is often located at the front of beds because it has broad leaves and stems that help create an optical illusion of the landscape being stretched longer than it is. These plants all help to add diversity in the shapes of and shades of the leaves in the landscape. It can also grow very well in the shade which is why it is useful to have in the Rock Garden and Circle Drive where large canopies loom above. When entering the rock garden there are multiple euonymus shrubs there greeting you. They help create a sense of mystery, because it is hard to see very much of the rock garden on the other side of these plants. They also have a lot of space to grow, so the combination of them being taller than a person entering the rock garden while also growing out far in multiple directions creates a sense of abundance that is often felt in Olmsted’s picturesque landscape style. |
Last updated: February 23, 2024