Winged spindle
Euonymus alatus
Also called Burning bush and Winged euonymus
Garden plant · ShrubsThe best red of any shrub in October, and it needs full sun to do it — in shade it goes a muddy pink. The corky wings on the twigs are the winter identification and the reason for the name.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Every 8 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Feed
- Every 60 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a very cold winter RHS H6, to -20°C
- Size
- 2.5 m tall · 3 m across
- Lifecycle
- Shrub
- Origin
- China, Japan and Korea
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsToxic to pets
No animal-poison authority lists this plant. Flagged unsafe on a people-toxicity source, which is the cautious reading rather than a checked one.
PeopleHarmful if eaten
The fruit and seeds.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-21.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.