Burning bush (Euonymus alatus), also called winged euonymus, can take over natural habitats and even regular yards, outcompeting native plants and the wildlife that depend on them. They spread mainly by the berries but they also drop their seeds and can spread around and near the plant. It’s a bummer these things are so invasive (in 21 states!) because they are beautiful in the fall. Alternative native varieties for beautiful fall color include fothergilla (pictured in the video), blueberry, cho

My 3-year-old strawberry bush (Euonymus americanus) flowered and produced these beautiful fruits for the first time this year! Also known as hearts-a-burstin’, this unique native shrub is ant- and fly-pollinated and produces eye-catching fruits in the fall. It is apparently a favorite plant for deer, so you’ll have to fence it in if you have deer issues. In my area, it’s pretty tough to find the plant in the wild because it will often be browsed to death or out-competed by invasives. It supports