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Key characteristics

Family: Celastraceae
Height: 6 to 8 feet tall
Width: 8 to 10 feet wide
Flower color: Inconspicuous green flowers
Foliage color: Green foliage that turns vivid red in autumn
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
Light: Prefers full sun to partial shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low; pruning can enhance shape
Growing zone: USDA zones 4 to 8
Wildlife: The berries attract birds

Shrubs

Euonymus alatus ‘Monstrosus’

Monstrosus Burning Bush

Euonymus alatus 'Monstrosus', a variety of burning bush, is renowned for its dense, upright growth habit and vivid fall color. During the growing season, its green, ovate leaves provide a lush appearance, but in autumn, the foliage transforms into a brilliant red, creating a dramatic seasonal display. Small, inconspicuous greenish flowers appear in late spring to early summer, often followed by tiny red capsules that split to reveal orange seeds, adding subtle ornamental interest.

Light

Prefers full sun to partial shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Late spring to early summer

Find this plant

Works well in

Sun Gardens
Formal Gardens
Hedging & Privacy
Specimen Plants

Companion plants

Tickseed · Russian sage · Potentilla · Fountain grass · Basket-of-gold · Lily of the Nile

Design tip

The unusually dense, upright branching makes ‘Monstrosus’ well suited to more structured garden compositions. Its broad form can define a boundary or anchor a formal planting during the growing season, then become dramatically more prominent when the foliage turns brilliant red in autumn.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)