The insect euonymus
scale is essentially a feature of any species of Euonymus rather than a pest.The two species of Euonymus native to north Alabama
are hearts-abursting-with-love, Euonymus americanus, and burningbush, E.
atropurpureus.The former, which is
relatively widespread open shrub, can be identified by the distinctive green
stems that I had wondered about before ever taking a dendrology class, and seed
capsules that split open by autumn to reveal 4 scarlet seed.The other native Euonymus is usually found on limestone and
the best example I have seen is at MonteSanoState
Park.Unfortunately
the vernacular name burningbush is also applied to winged euonymus, E. alata, when it is offered for sale by
nurseries despite it being a noxious weed that has escaped cultivation, therefore, be
wary of a “friend” offering you some of the many seedlings that are taking
over their landscape.Despite the vernacular name
there is no way I would plant this weed in a Biblicalthemed garden, although
the native species would be an acceptable choice.Between the euonymus scale and the track record
of at least one species being an invasive exotic species I would not plant any Euonymus except the native species local to an
area. Even though these are usually shrubs or less than tree sized if a single stemmed specimens there is an Alabama state champion of the native burningbush that is 26 feet tall, 53 inches in girth, and has and average limb spread of 32 feet were it is growing in Baldwin County, which is the champion county for having Alabama champion trees.
