Besides the bright red leaves in the fall, the burning bush has 4 corky wings that line green stems.  It is widely adaptable to a variety of environmental conditions and has no serious pest problems to keep it in check. Burning bush produces thousands of seeds which are eaten by birds and are spread miles from the parent plant. It can form dense thickets that replace native vegetation.

Witchalders do well in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil and can be planted in full sun to part shade.  Once established, they are drought tolerant. 

 In early spring, the fragrant white 'bottlebrush" flowers appear at the ends of the winter branches.

Once abundant, the Witchalder are now listed as threatened in several states.