PLANT NATIVE

Eastern Wahoo, Euonymus atropurpurea Height: 6-10’ | Spread: 6-8’ | Sun: Full Sun to part shade | Water: Medium

The wahoo shrub grows naturally near streams and in the low woodlands of eastern Nebraska. In the garden it is a great native substitute for the popular burning bush euonymus and is one of our most shade-tolerant shrubs. In full sun, it becomes a dense, clumping shrub which, over time, can grow into an attractive small tree. It’s easy to grow in rich, organic soils, but will tolerate a wide range of soils unless they are wet and poorly-drained. In spring the tiny little purple flowers are often hidden by the foliage, but they lead to showy, rosy-pink fruit capsules in fall. The fruit display continues after the leaves drop, often into December. The dark green leaves turn reddish-purple to yellow or simply green in the fall, depending on the amount of sun the plant receives.

* Native plant recommendations from the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, plantnebraska.org