Shrubs that pair well with euonymus alatus (burning bush)

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I'm looking for shrubs with green leaves that would look good with a euonymus alatus (burning bush) in my front yard. I'm in a community where we're restricted to a particular group of plant options. Here are several from the list (names copied directly, so don't blame me for any spelling errors!) that I'm considering and would appreciate feedback on:

Large:

Quercus gambelii (Gamble Oak)

Medium:

Ribes alpinum (Alpine Currant)

Small:

Cornus serica 'Kefseyii' (Kelsey Dogwood)

Viburnum opulus 'Nanum' (Dwarf European Cranberry)

Thanks!

Featured Answer

laceyvail 6A, WV

5 years ago

You don't give your zone, but Euonymus alatus is invasive in many parts of the country and really should not be planted. Also, they get very large, even the ones called "compactus".

https://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/3082

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Comments (8)

Morgan Lee
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Thanks for your perspective (note that your link doesn't work). I live in zone 5. I'm aware that the plant can grow to be very large and am happy with that. Many people in my neighborhood have also chosen to plant this species. I'm really just looking for feedback on other plants to go in my yard (i.e., my inclusion of euonymus alatus is not up for debate).
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NHBabs z4b-5a NH
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Where you are generally such as nearest large city and state is important if you want constructive suggestions. What grows north of Denver is different than what grows in Chicago or western MA.

Whether it is up for debate or not, Euonymus alatus is a truly boring choice (giant green blob for all but about 3 weeks of the year) as well as invasive in pretty much all of the east and midwestern parts of the county. You will be pulling many, many seedlings out of your garden as well as birds transporting it to wild areas where it outcompetes native plants.There are a whole raft of more interesting plants that aren’t invasive. You will also need to be constantly trimming it to keep it to a civilized size since the regular one can get to 20’ in all directions and the “compact” version to over 10’ and it regrows quickly. Just an all round terrible choice both for your own maintenance requirements and aesthetics as well as the woods and wild areas within the distance a bird can fly.

In many parts of the country there is a beetle that will chew the Viburnum opulus to lace, so that is another reason knowing where you are would be useful. In my area it isn’t worth planting because it looks chewed up all the time.

Cornus sericea ‘Kelseyii’ is a small red-twigged dogwood that really sings in winter if you prune about 1/3 of the stems each year to the ground so that they have fresh bark.

I don’t have experience with your other listed options. I know that Ribes alpinum has nice scented flowers, but I can’t plant it here because it harbors a disease that harms NH’s white pines, important to the timber industry. Are there any other possible choices that you haven’t listed? If not, your community needs to consult with a good nursery to get list of other options.
Embothrium
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I don't see anything in the list given relating particularly to the burning bush in any specific way. And really it comes down to what "green leaves that look good" would mean to you in this instance - you should probably look at pictures of the listed plants and try to visualize how they would appear to you in combination with the euonymus, choose what to plant that way.

If there is a retail outlet near there where these would be purchased then you should also be able view the plants together in person there, see what clicks for you.

If they don't have everything on the list then maybe you won't be buying whatever items are not in stock anyway.
Mens Tortuosa(5b Omaha, NE)
5 years ago
The best looking burning bushes I have seen are the ones allowed to grow in their natural vase-shaped form. I guess my choice from your picks would be the Alpine currant. I think a better option would be a low dark green or blue green evergreen shrub such as a yew or juniper or a dwarf pine-something that will contrast with the burning bush's light green spring leaves and red fall leaves.
Embothrium
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Yes - for me the first thing that comes to mind is blue conifers behind, to form a backdrop for the hot pink fall color - that would look great! But those plants don't fit the original request - if a way can be found to "loosen up" what is permitted there then much better results become possible.
Morgan Lee
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you to everyone else who commented! Sorry I didn't have time to respond individually, but I did appreciate the feedback. Between the HOA restrictions and what my builder and his landscaping team were willing to do, I was quite limited.
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Maybe it's me, but I can't even begin to think 'what would go good with x...', unless I can see the planting situation. Need to see pics. Once that is known, then I think more in terms of a contrast in shape, form, leaf color to the other plant. But would have to know location, exposure, etc. etc. Depending on the situation, maybe a tree would be better -- or maybe a ground cover.