Burning Bush 'Compactus' (Euonymus alatus 'Compactus')
yew-ON-ih-mus ah-LAY-tus 'Compactus'

Name_Pronunciation u-ON-i-mus a-LA-ta kom-PAK-ta
Deciduous Perennial Shrub in the Celastraceae Family
 
Buy Burning Bush 'Compactus'
Size Notes Price Availability
#5 gallon Field

Overstock (8/11)

 $46.91

 
Available September 3
Size Notes Price Availability
#5 gallon Field

Overstock

 $46.91
Available September 17
Size Notes Price Availability
#5 gallon Field

Overstock

 $46.91
Available September 24
Size Notes Price Availability
#5 gallon Field

Overstock

 $46.91
 
What a beauty! This dwarf burning bush, celebrated for its vibrant fall foliage and compact form. With glossy green leaves transforming into stunning scarlet, crimson, and fuchsia hues, it offers year-round charm.

Euonymus alatus 'Compactus', commonly known as the dwarf burning bush, is a compact, deciduous shrub prized for its vibrant fall foliage display and adaptable nature. This cultivar of the winged euonymus species offers a remarkable transformation over the course of the growing season.

Reaching a mature height of 6-8 feet and a similar spread, Euonymus alatus 'Compactus' forms a dense, rounded shrub with distinctive, corky "wings" lining its branches. During the spring and summer, the foliage emerges a rich, glossy green, providing a sturdy, low-maintenance backdrop in the landscape.

However, the plant's true showstopping moment arrives in autumn, when the leaves transform into a dazzling array of scarlet, crimson, and fuchsia hues. This fiery fall display is the result of the plant's ability to produce high levels of anthocyanin pigments as daylight hours decrease and temperatures cool.

The compact cultivar's smaller stature and slower growth rate make it an ideal choice for use in foundation plantings, border edges, and mass plantings. Its adaptability to a wide range of soil types, from acidic to alkaline, and tolerance for partial shade conditions further expand its design versatility.

Beyond its ornamental appeal, Euonymus alatus 'Compactus' also offers valuable ecological benefits. The plant's dense, woody structure provides shelter and nesting sites for birds, while its fall fruits are an important food source for small mammals and songbirds.

Whether used as a vibrant focal point, incorporated into mixed shrubbery borders, or relied upon for its reliable, low-maintenance performance, Euonymus alatus 'Compactus' is a standout addition to residential and commercial landscapes alike, captivating with its fiery autumn display and year-round appeal.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 6 - 8 feet tall. 6 - 8 feet wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Prefers moist soil, but does not like to be waterlogged.
Zones 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Beneficial Insects, Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Fall Color, Fall interest, Formal Garden, Foundation, Full Shade, Full Sun, Good for Accents, Good for Beginners, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Hedges, Insignificant Flowers, Low Maintenance, Medium, Most Popular, Native to Asia, Naturalizing, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Shrub, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Woodland Garden Bareroot Shrubs, Fall Color Shrubs, Hedges, Winter Interest Shrubs, Yellow Flowering Shrubs
Bloom Period May to June
Flower Color Inconspicuous, Yellow
Foliage Color Green
 

Most Popular Plants
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Sedum, Daylilies, Ornamental Grasses, Black-eyed Susans, Astilbe, Coreopsis, Asters, and Coneflowers.
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 04/13 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!