Euonymus americanus (American Strawberry Bush) Unity Grown

Commonly called American strawberry bush or 'bursting heart' for its ornamental fruits and attractive fall color, Euonymus americanus is a native, low-maintenance deciduous suckering shrub found throughout the south and mid-Atlantic, from Texas to New Jersey. Growing to a manageable size in the home landscape of four to six feet tall and wide, mature specimens in the wild can reach 6-12' in both dimensions.

Blooming in spring with relatively inconspicuous flowers, the real show for American strawberry bush is in the late summer and fall, when its explosive-looking red fruits and showy red fall foliage are on full display. As a relative of the beautiful but invasive burning bush (Euonymus alatus), bursting heart has the same striking red colors , but with a ton more ecological benefits. Euonymus americanus tolerates a wide variety of poor and clay-rich soils, but also tolerates some seasonal inundation as well as drought. Tolerant of all levels of light exposure, American strawberry bush is a great choice for woodland gardens or for naturalized areas.