Running Strawberry Bush (Euonymus obovata)
Running strawberry is in the bittersweet family. It is considered a dwarf shrub or short woody vine.
The leaves are opposite and bright green in the spring. In spring to early summer, flower stems (peduncles) grow out of some of the axils of the opposite leaves. These stems tend to lay flat on the leaves along the mid-vein. Petals have a pink-green color and the centers are green with five stamens and a pistil.
Once pollinated, a fruit develops. This fruit usually has three cells and red fruits develop inside, until fall, when the fruits split open.
This plant can also reproduce vegetatively if the stems touch the ground because they will develop roots in those locations.
Some sites list this plant as a ground cover. As it does spread, I guess it could be considered this, but leaves tend to be sparse. I think of it more as filler plant. In my experience in my yard, these tend to get gobbled, probably by rabbits.
I have most often seen this plant slightly uphill from floodplains. It grows ok in my yard without spreading much, presumably because it is too dry.
Running strawberry is in the bittersweet family. It is considered a dwarf shrub or short woody vine.
The leaves are opposite and bright green in the spring. In spring to early summer, flower stems (peduncles) grow out of some of the axils of the opposite leaves. These stems tend to lay flat on the leaves along the mid-vein. Petals have a pink-green color and the centers are green with five stamens and a pistil.
Once pollinated, a fruit develops. This fruit usually has three cells and red fruits develop inside, until fall, when the fruits split open.
This plant can also reproduce vegetatively if the stems touch the ground because they will develop roots in those locations.
Some sites list this plant as a ground cover. As it does spread, I guess it could be considered this, but leaves tend to be sparse. I think of it more as filler plant. In my experience in my yard, these tend to get gobbled, probably by rabbits.
I have most often seen this plant slightly uphill from floodplains. It grows ok in my yard without spreading much, presumably because it is too dry.
Running strawberry is in the bittersweet family. It is considered a dwarf shrub or short woody vine.
The leaves are opposite and bright green in the spring. In spring to early summer, flower stems (peduncles) grow out of some of the axils of the opposite leaves. These stems tend to lay flat on the leaves along the mid-vein. Petals have a pink-green color and the centers are green with five stamens and a pistil.
Once pollinated, a fruit develops. This fruit usually has three cells and red fruits develop inside, until fall, when the fruits split open.
This plant can also reproduce vegetatively if the stems touch the ground because they will develop roots in those locations.
Some sites list this plant as a ground cover. As it does spread, I guess it could be considered this, but leaves tend to be sparse. I think of it more as filler plant. In my experience in my yard, these tend to get gobbled, probably by rabbits.
I have most often seen this plant slightly uphill from floodplains. It grows ok in my yard without spreading much, presumably because it is too dry.
