What is a winged euonymus?

The winged euonymus, also known as the winged burning bush and the winged wahoo, is an ornamental plant native to Northeast Asia. It is named for the distinct reddish wings that grow from its stems, and it is destructively invasive in North America.

Despite its invasiveness, the winged euonymus remains popular for its appearance and hardiness. Its foliage turns an intense red color in the fall. It forms dense thickets in forests, coastal scrublands and prairies where it crowds out native species. In North America, it is most common along the Atlantic seaboard from New England to Florida and in Illinois.