Eastern Wahoo (Euonymus atropurpureus)

The red hanging casing of the fruit of Eastern Wahoo which will split open and the berry will drop down into view.

The leaves of Eastern Wahoo are about four inches long and they are opposite each other..

Eastern Wahoo (Euonymus atropurpureus)

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Eastern Wahoo is an uncommon small tree in Michigan that grows near rivers and in high quality floodplain forests in the southern part of the lower peninsula of Michigan. It tends to be in deciduous woods like beech-maple forests.

In the spring, it has many small burgundy flowers. Small bees and flies are the likely pollinators. Several moth caterpillars use Eastern Wahoo as a host plant. Later in the season, there will be red berries for hungry birds like Catbirds, Brown Thrashers, Bluebirds, and Eastern Towhees. Each berry has two brown seeds inside. Leaves are about four inches long and two inches across and are opposite each other on the branches.

Burning Bush is a shrub related to Eastern Wahoo that is popular in landscaping due to the bright red leaves in the fall. The problem with Burning Bush is that it is not native in the United States and it has proven to be invasive.

Eastern Wahoo (Euonymus atropurpureus)

Michigan Flora reference page for state distribution: Eastern Wahoo

Bloom time: June-July

Height: 12-20 feet

Soil: Loam

Sun: dappled light to light shade

Plant spacing: 8 feet

Flower: burgundy/red

Family: Celastraceae

Seed source: midwest

Eastern Wahoo is an uncommon small tree in Michigan that grows near rivers and in high quality floodplain forests in the southern part of the lower peninsula of Michigan. It tends to be in deciduous woods like beech-maple forests.

In the spring, it has many small burgundy flowers. Small bees and flies are the likely pollinators. Several moth caterpillars use Eastern Wahoo as a host plant. Later in the season, there will be red berries for hungry birds like Catbirds, Brown Thrashers, Bluebirds, and Eastern Towhees. Each berry has two brown seeds inside. Leaves are about four inches long and two inches across and are opposite each other on the branches.

Burning Bush is a shrub related to Eastern Wahoo that is popular in landscaping due to the bright red leaves in the fall. The problem with Burning Bush is that it is not native in the United States and it has proven to be invasive.

Eastern Wahoo (Euonymus atropurpureus)

Michigan Flora reference page for state distribution: Eastern Wahoo

Bloom time: June-July

Height: 12-20 feet

Soil: Loam

Sun: dappled light to light shade