Wildflowers of the United States

Bursting Heart, Hearts-a-bustin', Strawberry Bush. - Euonymus americanus

Family: Celastraceae - Bittersweet family

Genus Common Name: Spindletree

Native Status: Native

Euonymus americanus - Bursting Heart, Hearts-a-bustin', Strawberry Bush.. E. americanus is a shrub with thin stems and opposing, shallowly serrated leaves. The bush grows from 4 to 6 feet tall. Fruit is a red 4-lobed capsule. Each lobe splits open in the autumn, giving the name Bursting Heart.

A similar but taller and more northern species is Euonymous atropurpureus - Burningbush.

Thanks to @scgardeningnews for tweeting the South Carolina Native Plant Society Plant Identification website where I saw a photo that made this identification for me.

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Distribution of Euonymus americanus in the United States and Canada:

Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key
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Site: Three Lakes Park, Richmond, VA Date: 2009-November-07	Photographer: Patty Hankins Canon 5D Mark II
The bright red seed capsule of Euonymus americanus bursts open in the fall, giving the plant it's Bursting-heart common name. This excellent photograph is used with permission of the photographer, Patty Hankins. More photographs are available at her Beautiful Flower Pictures Blog.

Site: The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, GA Date: 2009-May-04	Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson Nikon D60 1/50f/13 ISO200 Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro 90mm (135 equiv) Flash: Yes
The blossoms of Bursting Heart are not showy, with 5 green petals which frequently have a reddish tinge.
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Site: The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, GA Date: 2009-May-04	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D60 1/60f/13 ISO200 Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro 90mm (135 equiv) Flash: Yes

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Site: Blount County, TN Date: 2010-October-17	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D60 200mm (300 equiv)

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Site: Reflection Riding, Hamilton County, TN Date: 2010-August-28	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D60

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Site: Zahnd's Natural Area (Lower), Walker County, GA Date: 2010-September-12	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D60 Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro

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Euonymus americanus initially published on USWildflowers.com 2010-01-17; Updated 2015-06-25

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Code Update 20230302