Plant Type

Shrub

 

Height Range

12-25'

 

Flower Color

Yellow

 

Flower Season

Spring

 

Leaf Color

Green, Dark Green, Red

 

Bark Color

Brown, Green

 

Fruit Color

Red

 

Fruit Season

Fall

Sun

Full, Half

 

Water

Medium, Extra in Summer

 

Growth Rate

Moderate, Slow

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Poor, Well-drained

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

English Cottage, Formal

 

Accenting Features

Fall Color

 

Seasonal Interest

Spring, Fall

 

Location Uses

Background, Shrub Border, Foundation, Walls / Fences

 

Special Uses

Hedge, Screen, Mass Planting

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Burning bush is a large deciduous shrub, growing to 15 feet or more, usually with a similar spread. Leaves emerge in the spring a bright, luminous green, mature to a dullish medium to dark green, and turn a brilliant scarlet to burgundy in the fall. After the leaves drop, the interesting wood is exposed, with corky "wings" along the length of the stems. New wood displays green and brown wood, older wood is a warm grey brown. Little yellow flowers appear May and June, and though not showy, they are charming. Not easy to find ("Compacta" is a dwarf form, is more common), but I saw one next to a patio pruned as a multi-stemmed small tree and it was stunning.

Grow in full sun to part shade (though fall color may be less intense). Not particular to soil type, and not very drought tolerant. Benefits from regular summer watering. combines well with spirea, weigelea, and purple-leaf sand cherries. Avoid shearing as it makes this dense, twiggy shrub even woodier; prune selectively to control size or shape (see Guides). Avoid planting directly against a south or west-facing wall...the heat will fry the poor thing.