Origin: Native to
eastern Asia, winged Euonymus was brought to the United States during
the mid-nineteenth century and has been widely planted as an ornamental.
A dwarf variety, compactus, is a popular hedge-forming plant.
Winged Euonymus is used primarily as foundation plantings, hedges, and
highway plantings. It is widely disseminated by wildlife species,
which spread the seeds in their droppings.
Habitat: Winged
Euonymus grows in a variety of soil conditions and spreads readily from
cultivation into old fields, open woods, and mature second growth
forests.
Why is it a problem? In open
woodlands, winged Euonymus replaces native shrubs. In areas where
it forms dense monotypic lands, it reduces habitat diversity.
The root system forms a dense mat just below the soil surface. The
combination of the dense shade provided and the tight root system makes
survival of other plants beneath Euonymus impossible.
