I haven't found them particularily hardy. My neighbor had 2 beautiful burning bush shrubs last year flanking a sidewalk that were about 4'h-this year one of them is completely dead, I've seen others that have died back to the snowline. I don't know why Home Depot sells them with such reckless abandon-maybe other people have better luck with them.

Oh wow. Linders had a 4 year guarantee, but I don't want to pull them out even if they are guaranteed!

My dwarf planted last year on the north side of house had no dieback at all, but last winter was mild.

There are TONS of beautiful specimens of euonymus elatus compacta all over the Twin Cities and Wisconsin. I do occasionally see some that suffer some die-back (my new ones, included) or that get chewed on by the rabbits, but there are even more that look just beautiful. To me, this is a plant that's well worth having. I have a mature one by my front window and I so enjoy the birds that come to visit on it to pick who-knows-what from the bark even in the middle of the winter. I only wish the branches were strong enough for a feeder!
Now that I know the rabbits like to chew on them, I will put some Fence-off, or what ever that's called, on them occasionally.

We had a beautiful burning bush for about 10 years. Then one winter, a few years ago, was just too harsh and it totally died. I've been thinking about getting another as it really is a nice shrub.
Chris

Ours is still growing strong, and we've had it for about 8-9 years. But, it is up against the garage. That protects it from the worst of our weather. And I absolutely love the red fall color and prune-ability.

E. alatus 'Rudy Haag' is a nice form of Winged Burning Bush. It might be worth seeking out since it stays considerably smaller than E.a. 'Compactus'.

Bob

Actually I love the non dwarf form. It can be pruned to resemble a very exotically shaped small tree or is lovely just as a large bush. But it's very hard to find anymore.