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Euonymus Americana: Something for the Garden that has Everything
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Every year you toil over the best way to bring your garden back to life and you know there's no better way to make your garden new and wonderful than to add a new plant. And with hundreds of thousands of plants to choose from that will fare well in your growing zone, you can make any type of change you want. But the Euonymus Americana may have something different to offer your garden that it's never seen before.
Euonymus Americana is native to the eastern United States but can be found as far West as Missouri and even Oklahoma. This plant grows best in moist soil and exists primarily in bottomland forests, where the soil is moist but also well-drained. It can also be found in upland forests that have mesic properties.
This beautiful plant has been referred to as a strawberry bush for decades, mostly due to its outward resemblance to a strawberry plant-the ripened fruit on this plant is crimson and shaped much like a strawberry, though, unlike strawberries, the fruit husk will split open at the middle when it reaches maturity, revealing four small capsule shaped fruits. The inside fruits are orangey-red in color.
Before plating Euonymus Americana it's important to understand that this plant does have the ability to tolerate many different types of well-drained soils (including acidic, sand, loam, slightly alkaline and clay soils), but is unable to withstand drought-therefore it is important to keep your plant watered, in the shade and with only partial sun.
Regardless of its inability to handle drought, Euonymus Americana is a relatively hardy plant and should not have any root problems-where other plants may be heavily susceptible to root rot or other root damage, there are no known root problems for the strawberry bush. There are two main diseases that may attack this plant-Euonymus scale and crown gall-and because both of these problems are extremely dangerous to the plant's life and aesthetic quality, it may not be suitable for every garden, especially those that are not tended every day.
When planting the strawberry bush it's important to space the plants between 36 and 60 inches apart-if you are creating a wall, 36 inches will suit your needs and if you are attempting to separate the plants throughout your garden, 60 inches is more suitable.
Unlike many other similar plants, Euonymus Americana has no known potential to be invasive and will coexist happily alongside other plants in your garden. It is a deciduous plant and the leaves turn red in the fall, offering your garden a little something extra in addition to the colorful fruit and husks.
For an even more beautiful effect, plant your strawberry bushes around or near the water paths in your garden, if you have them. The effect created by this pairing is unmatched in the gardening world.
Remember, if your garden already has "everything" but could use something a little different, the Euonymus Americana is the perfect addition for your flower and plant beds.
Article submitted Tuesday, October 06, 2009 & read 143 times.
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