Search Fact Sheets Virginia Tech Dendrology

eastern wahoo Celastraceae Euonymus atropurpureus Jacq. Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet symbol: EUAT5
Leaf: Opposite, simple, elliptical, 2 1/2 to 4 inches long, finely serrated, long pointed, green above, paler and may be pubescent below.
Flower: Perfect, inconspicuous (1/3 inch across), 4 dark purple petals with whitish anthers, appearing in late spring in multiple branched clusters.
Fruit: 4-lobed capsule, 1/2 inch across, pink to purple in color, splits open to reveal dark red seeds, ripens in fall.
Twig: Slender, green turning brown with age, maybe 4-sided, leaf scars are light brown (nearly white) and obvious against green twig; buds are green and sharp pointed.
Bark: Thin, greenish-brown to reddish brown, shallow longitudinal splits.
Form: A low branching shrub that reaches 20 feet in height.
 Looks like: winged euonymus - strawberry bush - spindletree - wintercreeper

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Additional Range Information: Euonymus atropurpureus is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information