Euonymus alatus, burning bush......just starting to develop its fall color.

invasive in many locations.. ubiquitous in all areas.. lol ... [my word of the day] ...

it can become HUGE .... its rather poorly sited for it potential .... so you will be having to prune it back once or twice a year ... we once had one.. grow past the gutters ... with a 3 or 4 inch trunk ... cut it to 3 inches.. and with no insult to the root mass.. in a year or 2.. it was right back up there.... so next time.. it was removed ...

with so many alternatives.. i wouldnt keep it around ... ken

potential: https://www.google.com/search?q=Euonymus+alatus&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwixtYS1k7_PAhVh0YMKHfuhCOsQ_AUICCgB&biw=874&bih=745&dpr=0.9

Even where it's not invasive, it is, as Ken said, a MASSIVE thing, and can easily reach 15 feet spread and height, even with regular pruning. That one you've got there is in a bad spot for you, and will end up taking over the deck. I would move it, if not remove it, now, when it is fairly small.

Beautiful shrubs! Burning bush should be sheared to contain size. It would certainly be a good idea to move it. Don't trash it just because it is invasive!

Please read at least one of these articles:

https://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/eual.htm

http://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/subject.html?sub=3023

http://greatswamp.org/what-we-do/land-conservation/stewardship/invasive-species-burning-bush/

It is banned in MA and NH, and since you are a lot closer to those states than Logan Johnson, you should, perhaps, keep the experience of those states in mind when making your decision.

When NC bans it I will take the business from lowes! I have a burning bush crop that will be ready next fall! Burning bush is very useful and I do not want to discourage the OP from growing it. If they like it, it is their right to grow it.

You really don't get it, Logan. Invasive plant management has nothing to do with your own needs or desires. This has to do with your entire ecosystem. Try thinking beyond your own garden.

It really doesn't matter. Here is my scenario:

you have 1 burning bush.

there are 5 more in the woods behind your house

you remove the one in your landscape

the ones in the woods continue to produce seed and contribute to the problem

the problem doesn't go away

So many natives that are so much more lovely. People choose this one because it's what's in the big box. I've made that mistake, too. Euonymus alatus got MUCH bigger than planned, and is really only nice in select fall seasons. I replaced mine with Physocarpus opulifolius 'Coppertina'. It's got lovely foliage all season, and pretty flowers. I've got another spot for a deciduous shrub, and I'm thinking about fothergilla, mostly because of the fall color.

Try itea (sweetspire) for fall color - it's glorious.

Logan: Not that it's likely to penetrate the wall of ignorance behind which you live, but try these analogies.. One meth dealer is sentenced to prison, but there are 5 more still operating in the area. The problem doesn't go away. By your reasoning there is now moral/ethical justification for you or anyone else to sell meth. Same with driving at reckless speed. According to your twisted logic, since not all speeders can be stopped, the problem does not go away, so it's fine for you to drive at 100 mph.

Logan, please stop encouraging people to grow invasive plants. It's really a no-brainer.

Hey TNC, I'd love to see landscape shots of your property - you have a lovely "new" garden with lots of treasures. The burning bush needs to come out: its a large, coarse shrub that will outgrow its space without frequent pruning and it only looks nice for two weeks each year. There are better ways to spend your weekends than pruning shrubs. Remove this one and you'll have a spot to add something much nicer to your collection. And don't forget to post some landscape shots LOL.

For my part, I'd love to see the native Euonymous atropurpureus or eastern wahoo become more available. Great plant, native of course and carrying nearly fluorescent red fruits and capsules well into the winter landscape-it's really spectacular.

I like eastern wahoo, hearts a bustin, and burning bush!

I will absolutely post some pictures. It is a new to me garden, however, not new. Mismanaged I'm afraid! This isn't the only burning bush I have, the other is much larger, possibly a couple planted together.

They are beautiful, but I will work at removing them, how do I go about it? Dig up the roots? Won't that damage my garden?

Don't remove them if you like them! It is your landscape and you have the right to grow burning bush if you want to! Move them to a more suitable space where you can enjoy them for years to come.

Photos posted in garden photo section, I think thats where I should have done it!

Here's a link to TNC's photo thread.

In all honesty, TNC, I think the garden photo gallery dates from many years ago when it wasn't easy to post photos in threads. So usually I just post photos in the forum that seems most appropriate to the specific topic rather than in the garden photo gallery.

Thank you for posting photos TNC. Your garden is even lovelier than I had imagined. Watching a 'new to you' garden progress through the seasons is fascinating. I'm now wondering where spring bulbs might be tucked amongst your beds.

My favourite is the Japanese maple :)

I especially like the grouping of dwarf blue spruce. So often you see one little blue ball plunked down in a sea of mulch. Yours are connected to the landscape with a sense of place.