Fire Ball® Burning Bush

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

5-7 Feet

Mature Spread

5-7 Feet

Growing Zones

4 to 8

A compact, hardy form of winged euonymus, Fire Ball Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus ‘Select’) delivers a blast of scarlet foliage each autumn on a tidy, rounded shrub that tops out near 6 feet. Dark‑green leaves cloak corky, ridged stems through spring and summer, then ignite to intense cherry red before dropping to reveal the sculptural bark. Unlike many older cultivars, Fire Ball tolerates Midwestern winters without stem die‑back and keeps its dense shape without constant pruning. Plant this deciduous shrub where you need reliable fall drama and four‑season structure.

Native to northeastern Asia, the species adapts to clay, loam, or sandy soils and tolerates urban heat, road salt, and short dry spells once rooted. Fire Ball is unpalatable to deer and rarely bothered by insects or diseases. Use it as a low hedge, a mass planting beneath overhead wires, or a single accent in mixed borders. The shrub’s red seed capsules add a subtle ornamental touch that songbirds appreciate in late fall.

Fire Ball® Burning Bush Care

Set plants in well‑drained soil that ranges from slightly acidic to mildly alkaline; amend heavy clay with compost to improve drainage. Full sun produces the richest autumn color, though the plant accepts light shade with a softer red display. Water deeply every week the first season, then supply supplemental moisture only during extended drought. Feed in early spring with a balanced, slow‑release granular fertilizer formulated for woody plants.

Routine pruning is strictly optional. If shaping is desired, shear or thin in late winter before new growth appears; the shrub recovers slowly from cuts into thick wood, so favor selective thinning over hard shearing. Remove any interior deadwood as it occurs. Container specimens in Zone 4 benefit from a sheltered location and mulch over the root zone to buffer freeze‑thaw cycles.

Fire Ball® Burning Bush Spacing

For an unbroken hedge, space plants 5 feet apart on center; allow 8 feet when using as individual specimens or island groupings. A young shrub fills a 20‑gallon container; shift to a half‑whiskey barrel–size pot after three years to maintain root health and display the fiery fall show on patios or entryways.

Restricted States: MA, ME, NH and VT.