Burning Bush Live Plant (Euonymus Alatus ‘Compacta’) – Set of 3, 2.5″ Containers, 4-6″ Tall

Overview

Introduce spectacular autumn hues to your landscape with the burning bush live plant (Euonymus Alatus ‘Compacta’). This offering includes three healthy, rooted plants, each in a 2.5-inch container and standing 4-6 inches tall. Renowned for its incredibly vibrant scarlet-red fall foliage, the burning bush live plant is a showstopper that provides year-round interest. Scientifically known as Euonymus Alatus ‘Compacta’, this deciduous shrub is a popular choice for gardeners seeking a plant with distinct seasonal appeal and a manageable growth habit. Its dense, mounded form makes it a versatile addition to various garden designs, from formal hedges to informal mass plantings. These young plants are ready to be transplanted into your garden, bringing the promise of stunning displays for years to come.

The ‘Compacta’ cultivar is specifically bred for its smaller size compared to the species, making it an excellent fit for residential landscapes where space might be a consideration. Even in winter, after its leaves have fallen, the unique corky wings on its branches provide an interesting textural element. This characteristic ensures that your garden remains visually engaging throughout all seasons. The ease of care and adaptability of the burning bush live plant also contribute to its widespread popularity among both novice and experienced gardeners, promising a rewarding growing experience.

Key Benefits

The burning bush live plant offers a multitude of benefits, making it a highly desirable addition to any outdoor space. Its striking appearance and robust nature contribute significantly to garden aesthetics and ecological functions.

• Spectacular Fall Color: The most celebrated feature of the burning bush live plant is its intense, fiery red to purplish-red fall foliage. This brilliant display can transform your garden into a breathtaking autumn spectacle, providing a dramatic contrast to evergreen plants and adding a focal point to your landscape.
• Versatile Landscaping Use: With its dense, mounded growth habit, the ‘Compacta’ variety is incredibly versatile. It’s perfect for creating privacy hedges, foundation plantings, mass plantings, or as a striking specimen plant. Its adaptability allows it to fit seamlessly into various garden designs.
• Year-Round Interest: Beyond its stunning fall color, the unique corky wings on its stems provide visual interest even in winter after the leaves have dropped. This architectural detail ensures your garden remains captivating throughout all seasons, preventing a dull winter landscape.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, burning bush shrubs care is relatively easy. These plants are tolerant of a range of soil conditions and are generally pest and disease resistant, requiring minimal intervention to thrive and maintain their beautiful form.
• Moderate Growth Rate: The ‘Compacta’ cultivar has a slow to moderate growth rate, making it easier to manage its size and shape compared to the larger species. This means less frequent pruning is needed to maintain its desired form, ideal for busy gardeners.
• Drought Tolerance: While it prefers consistent moisture, the burning bush is quite tolerant of dry spells once established, making it a resilient choice for various climates and reducing the need for constant watering.
• Wildlife Attraction: The berries produced by the burning bush can provide a food source for birds, adding another layer of natural beauty and activity to your garden during the colder months.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your burning bush live plant is straightforward, ensuring a vibrant and healthy shrub for many years. These plants thrive in a wide range of conditions, but providing optimal care will maximize their stunning fall color and dense growth. For successful establishment, choose a location with full sun to partial shade. Full sun exposure (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day) will promote the most intense and brilliant fall foliage color. While it can tolerate some shade, too much shade can result in less vibrant autumn leaves and a more open growth habit. Good air circulation is also beneficial to prevent fungal issues.

When it comes to watering, consistent moisture is key, especially during the first year after planting. Water deeply and regularly, allowing the top inch or two of soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Once established, the euonymus alatus compacta is quite drought-tolerant, but supplemental watering during prolonged dry periods will keep it looking its best. Well-draining soil is crucial; avoid areas where water tends to stand, as this can lead to root rot. A slightly acidic to neutral soil pH is preferred. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer formulated for trees and shrubs to encourage robust growth. Pruning is best done in late winter or early spring before new growth begins to shape the plant and remove any dead or damaged branches. This also helps maintain the compact growth habit of this excellent compact hedge plant.

Monitoring for pests and diseases is important, though the burning bush is generally quite resilient. Common issues are usually minor and can be addressed with appropriate horticultural practices. Protecting your young plants from harsh winter winds in colder zones can also be beneficial, although older plants are quite hardy. Understanding these basic burning bush shrub care principles will help ensure your plants flourish and provide a spectacular display of vibrant fall foliage plants each year.

Size & Details

This offering includes three individual burning bush live plant specimens, each carefully rooted and shipped in 2.5-inch containers. At the time of shipping, the plants measure approximately 4-6 inches in height, providing a solid start for your garden. The ‘Compacta’ cultivar is known for its mature size of 3-4 feet in height with an equal spread, making it an excellent choice for a manageable landscape shrub or a beautiful compact hedge plant. It exhibits a mounded, horizontal, and spreading growth habit, becoming broader than it is high at maturity. The growth rate is considered slow, contributing to its dense form and requiring less frequent pruning.

These deciduous shrubs are suitable for USDA hardiness zones 4-9, indicating their resilience across a wide range of climates. They are shipped as live, rooted plants, ready for immediate transplanting into your garden or larger pots. Expect these plants to gradually grow into their mature size, providing increasingly spectacular vibrant fall foliage plants with each passing year. They are effective for hedging, massing, specimen planting, or as foundation plants, showcasing clean foliage and interesting stem character even during the winter months.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this burning bush live plant get? A: The ‘Compacta’ variety of burning bush live plant typically reaches a mature size of 3-4 feet in height and an equal diameter, forming a dense, rounded shrub.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: Each burning bush live plant in this set is rooted and shipped in a 2.5-inch container, measuring approximately 4-6 inches tall upon arrival.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The burning bush live plant is an outdoor deciduous shrub, best suited for garden beds, hedges, or foundation plantings. It requires outdoor conditions to thrive and display its characteristic fall color.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: For the best fall color, your euonymus alatus compacta should receive full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily). It can tolerate partial shade, but the fall foliage may be less vibrant.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, burning bush shrub care is considered relatively easy. Once established, it is low-maintenance, tolerant of various soil conditions, and generally resistant to pests and diseases.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your burning bush live plant will arrive as a healthy, rooted plant in its 2.5-inch container, ready for planting. We ensure careful packaging to protect the plants during transit.
• Q: When is the best time to plant burning bush? A: The best time to plant your burning bush live plant is in the spring or early fall, allowing the plant sufficient time to establish its root system before extreme temperatures.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: The burning bush live plant is hardy in USDA zones 4-9, meaning it can tolerate a wide range of winter temperatures within these zones.
• Q: Can I use this for hedging? A: Absolutely! The compact and dense growth habit of the euonymus alatus compacta makes it an excellent choice for creating a striking hedge, especially for its brilliant fall display.
• Q: What makes its fall color so vibrant? A: The intense red color of the vibrant fall foliage plants like the burning bush is due to anthocyanin pigments produced in the leaves as chlorophyll breaks down in cooler temperatures and shorter days.
• Q: What kind of soil does it prefer? A: The burning bush live plant prefers well-draining soil and can adapt to a variety of soil types, including clay, loam, and sand, as long as drainage is adequate.