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shrub

Chicago Fire Burning Bush

Euonymus alatus 'Chicago Fire'

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Chicago Fire Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus 'Chicago Fire') at Bloch's Farm

Chicago Fire Burning Bush in fall

Chicago Fire Burning Bush in fall

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Chicago Fire Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus 'Chicago Fire') at Bloch's Farm

Chicago Fire Burning Bush

Chicago Fire Burning Bush

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  9 feet

Spread:  7 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade  full shade 

Hardiness Zone:  4a

Other Names:  Winged Euonymus, Burningbush

Description:

A superb shrub for brilliant fall color, turns a florescent red color, very showy; a compact mounded growth habit and interesting corky wings on the branches, a good size for home landscape use; very adaptable and versatile

Ornamental Features

Chicago Fire Burning Bush is primarily grown for its highly ornamental fruit. It features abundant showy red capsules from early to late fall. It has rich green deciduous foliage. The pointy leaves turn an outstanding crimson in the fall. The warty brown bark and harvest gold branches are extremely showy and add significant winter interest.

Landscape Attributes

Chicago Fire Burning Bush is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and can be pruned at anytime. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Chicago Fire Burning Bush is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Accent
  • Mass Planting
  • Hedges/Screening
  • General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Chicago Fire Burning Bush will grow to be about 9 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 7 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This shrub performs well in both full sun and full shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Accent  Massing  Screening  Garden 
Applications
Fruit  Fall Color  Bark  Winter Value 
Ornamental Features