The picture didnt go through but here it is

The difference between a shrub and a tree is more one of scale than anything else. That shrub could be some kind of euonymous.....can't quite tell from the pic. Where was this shot taken?

+oM

I agree, some kind of euonymous.

I live in upstate NY. I have more photos. The trunk is very short with many interwoven branches as you can see. Also was trying to identify it so that I can trim it properly if at all.... I have a feeling they weren't doing it right but just to keep it under control.

The leaves are not glossy at all and the bark texture does remind me of a Japanese spindle tree.... but the fall color has yet to be seen. This spring there were some insignificant tiny white flowers on it. If that helps? And thanks for responding, other forums have all but told me to go read a book and figure it out. Not like I haven't tried!

Still sounds like some kind of euonymous.

closer view

front

leaves

Definately Euonymous, but not elatus. Sold as Burning Bush.

One thing I can tell you right off the bat... those stubs near the base should be cut as flush with the parent branch as possible.

Yes, I noted this spring that there is no growth around them. Thank you.I will asap. Whatever this is , it was planted when the house was built in 1953. The previous owner said they " hack at it, constantly to keep it in check" I wanted to find out more about it , before I touched it. My experience is strictly in the perennial garden.

Short of removing it, you could make the bed wider to accommodate it better, so you don't have to 'keep it in check'.
In some places Euonymous is considered an invasive shrub.
It will turn a bright red in the Fall.
Mike

I cut Euonymus alatus 'Compactus' down to stubs at the end of winter periodically to keep it in bounds. Doesn't take long for a nice top to re-grow. Looks better than cutting off parts of branches, up high in the top.

Thanks for all the help, everyone. I would widen the bed but it sits right against the side of the house, so if you dont trim it a little you have to do the limbo to get past it. Yes it does seem a bit invasive, a lot of small shoots coming up all around it.

its considered an invasive weed in many areas ... google the latin name.. and your state.. and find out..

dad had one like that.. and wanted me to prune it..

cut it COMPLETELY to 3 inches.. and by the following year.. it was 3/4 the size ...

its improperly planted.. to close to the house.. for its potential ... and if it were the front of my house.. i would remove it.. it really wouldnt make the statement i want to make.. on the front of the house ...

you can do so much better than that weed.. IMHO ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

Golly gee, let's not get carried away with labeling everything Euonymus as invasive! There are 4 US native species of euonymus that by definition cannot be invasive and the only species of exotic euonymus that is listed is the winged euonymus or burning bush, Euonymus alatus. And that only regionally, not universally.

The tree/shrub in the photo is most definitely not E. alatus (no corky, winged stems obvious and a dissimilar growth habit) - in fact, it looks remarkably similar to one of our native species, the Eastern Wahoo or E. atropurpureus. Can you see any signs of flowering or seed capsules? If so, post photos for ID clarification.

Its positioning is a bit unfortunate so close to the porch but it is a shrub that can tolerate considerable pruning. The multistemmed patterning is attractive and likely more so in winter. And like many of the other deciduous examples of the genus, it gets great fall color. Removing it is certainly not a requirement but only a personal option.

LOL!! "weed" is only a matter of opinion. Many folks are very anxious to include native species in their landscape.

Oh, thank you :) I really think it could be very nice. And I love the shape, with the interwoven branches. I just wanted to know if there was a better way to prune it so that it wouldnt be so top heavy. what with the branches breaking under heavy rain. It is against the side porch , and provides a much needed shady spot for my house on the hill. Very dry and sunny up here. It does have small greenish yellow flowers in the spring...very tiny. You all have been most helpful. thanks again.

the seeds can actually be seen in the last photo of the branch but here is another, they are oblong and green...like most seeds :-)

Low and behold I found some old pictures online from when my house was for sale, on the realty website. And there it is , prior to the heavy hack job. I guess they did it prior to the sale in an effort to " clean up" is there any chance the bottom half would fill in again?

here it is

Yes, it as a Wahoo or Spindle Tree. I have several of them, as they are extremely easy to propagate from suckers that pop up a few feet away from the mother plant.

It's definitely kind of large for the space. You can take it down to ground level if you want, and then prune and shape to keep it much smaller. But I wouldn't do it until first thing next spring, it's really too late now in upstate NY to do this kind of extensive renewal pruning. The new growth would probably die back in the winter. It wouldn't kill the plant, but you wouldn't gain anything by doing it now in terms of the plant. I guess you would gain not having the thing in your way all that time, though.

Thanks so much! Now I have to wait for spring ...again. lol. But no worries ...the 120x60 privet wall around my property will keep me occupied !

Not to get picky, you've got plenty of good advice, but it's probably not a native spindle tree. The native is E. atropurpureus which has purplish blooms. You say yours are white which is more of a european spindle trait.

It is close to the porch, but I also wouldn't want to give up the privacy and shade.

Euonymus americanus is also a native species of spindle - I missed the part about white flowers......

Ok , so I decided to Take a piece to the University here , as my sisters friend studies Horticulture, and said she could ask the professor. Hope it doesnt cause an uproar but he said , without a doubt...it is Euonymus alatus(obviously not compactus). He said they can grow to 20 feet tall. He also said that it was unfortunate that they cut it back the way they did, removing the bottom branches . This is why it snaps under a heavy rain...no support from below. So now my question is this , How can I restore it to its proper shape, filling in at the bottom? Should I cut it back in spring ? Its so old im afraid to take it back to a stump.

Ok , so I decided to Take a piece to the University here , as my sisters friend studies Horticulture, and said she could ask the professor. Hope it doesnt cause an uproar but he said , without a doubt...it is Euonymus alatus(obviously not compactus). He said they can grow to 20 feet tall. He also said that it was unfortunate that they cut it back the way they did, removing the bottom branches . This is why it snaps under a heavy rain...no support from below. So now my question is this , How can I restore it to its proper shape, filling in at the bottom? Should I cut it back in spring ? Its so old im afraid to take it back to a stump.

I cut this Euonymus alatus down to a short stump this Spring. It now has a lot of new growth sprouting from the trunk. Guess I'll have to dig it up to get rid of it. I did save some seedlings though.
The Deodara behind it was also cut to a stump. Sapsuckers weakened it so bad it looked worse than good.

Mike

{{gwi:397906}}

WOW! Just goes to show you what an attempt to ID from photos can miss :-) Lacking any sign of the characteristic 'wings' or stem corkiness that this shrub is known for and the significant size and growth habit, it was just a guess as to what other species it might be.

Since you live in NY and this plant is a listed invasive in that state, I'd seriously consider removal before attempting to retrain it into some other more pleasing or stable form. It is just not worth the effort for such a problemtic plant.

I'm a bit surprised that alatus is considered so invasive. The ones around here, and there are many, do readily seed themselves but it seems all the seedlings are right under the plant. What agent is distributing the seeds in the region to my east?

+oM

Birds.
REPRODUCTION AND METHODS OF DISPERSAL: Seed production is prodigious; many germinate where they fall close to the mother plant creating dense beds of seedlings. Others are spread by birds that are attracted to the seeds by their nutritious, fleshy, red covering (aril). Seeds dispersed this way germinate easily and spread the infestation rapidly. Wide usage of this a popular landscape ornamental increases the probability that more will escape from cultivation.

Here is a link that might be useful: Euonymus alatus: invasive tutorial

Have never seen a single specimen...out of place. Birds around here must not like the arils.

+oM