Hearts-a-Busting
Hearts-a-Busting, Strawberry Bush Euonymus americanus
This medium-sized (up to 6’-ish tall) deciduous native shrub, now flowering, is likely underwhelming to most all viewers in most all aspects until late September, when the fruit that appears from these quiet, less-than-a-dime sized flowers approaches the unforgettable: strawberry-sized, rough-textured and crimson colored, these eye-catching fruits split open to reveal bright orange seeds that fall free as the spikey outer capsule dries, shrinks slightly and pulls open to release them. Easily resembles a strawberry or a heart bursting open.
It is tolerant of Black Walnut trees, though gardeners take note: if you can find this plant for sale and do add it to your gardens, deer are more than a little fond of this. While found in relative abundance in wild areas in NJ at the same northerly latitude as our Southeastern PA counties, it is listed as rare in PA, no doubt at least partly due to the high deer density in Southeastern PA and their seemingly unanimous appreciation for this plant.
Courtesy of Mark Gormel
Senior Manager of Horticulture
Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art (Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania)