Burningbush 'Fire Ball®'
Burningbush 'Fire Ball®'

Burningbush 'Fire Ball®'

Scott's Nursery Ltd.

$39.99
Title

Set your autumn landscape ablaze with the most intense red imaginable. Fire Ball® is an improved, tighter-branching version of the classic Burning Bush, forming a tidy, mounded globe of rich green foliage throughout the summer. As temperatures drop, it undergoes a breathtaking transformation into a "fire-engine red" masterpiece that practically glows in the sunlight. Its unique corky, "winged" bark provides a rugged, architectural texture that remains a focal point even after the leaves have fallen.

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners or www.provenwinners.com
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Plant Details

Mature Size:

6' H x 6' W

Zone:

4-8

Watering:

Medium

Foliage Type:

Deciduous

Growth Rate:

Slow - Moderate

Light:

Full Sun

Plant Profile

Common Names:

Fire Ball Burning Bush, Winged Euonymus, Spindle Tree

Scientific Name:

Euonymus alatus 'Select' (Fire Ball®).

Type:

Ornamental Deciduous Shrub

Growth Details:

  • Mature Size: Reaches 5–7 feet tall and wide.
  • Growth Habit: Dense, multi-stemmed, and mounded.
  • Form: Compact and rounded.
  • Growth Rate: Slow to medium.
  • Longevity: Can live for 50 years or more.

Environmental Needs:

  • Exposure: Full sun is highly recommended for the best color; tolerates part shade.
  • Soil Preferences: Thrives in ordinary, fertile soil.
  • Soil Tolerance: Adaptable to clay, alkaline, and acidic soils.
  • Watering: Regular watering until established; highly adaptable to both dry and moist locations thereafter.

Special Features:

Superior winter hardiness with less stem die-back than other varieties; urban pollution tolerant; deer resistant.

Ornamental & Landscape Value

Seasonal Interest:

  • Bloom: Tiny, non-showy yellow-green flowers in late spring.
  • Fall Colour: Incredible fluorescent "fire-engine" red.
  • Bark/Fruit: Features "winged" corky bark and small orange-red berries that persist into winter.

Garden Value:

A premier choice for low hedges, foundation plantings, and mass groupings. Because it stays more compact than standard varieties, it is perfect for smaller urban gardens or as an eye-catching specimen in a mixed border.

Wildlife & Human Value:

  • Wildlife Value: Provides cover for small birds; berries are a food source for songbirds in late fall.
  • Human Value: Provides a high-impact "living screen" and spectacular autumn aesthetics with minimal upkeep.

Planting & Care Guide

Planting Considerations:

  • Best Time To Plant: Spring is ideal.
  • Spacing: Plant 5–6 feet apart for a continuous hedge.
  • Location Tips: Avoid extremely wet or boggy sites to prevent root rot.

Care:

  • Light Requirements: Best in full sun to maximize its signature red fall colour.
  • Moisture Requirements: Prefers medium moisture; ensures the soil is well-drained.
  • Maintenance: Low maintenance; it naturally maintains a compact shape but can be pruned in late winter if desired.
  • Fertilization: Apply a slow-release fertilizer specialized for trees and shrubs in early spring.

Tolerances:

Drought (once established), salt, clay soil, and urban pollution.

Tips For Success:

Mulch to keep roots cool and moist. To prevent the plant from becoming too sparse, perform a hard dormant prune every few years to encourage new, thick growth from the base.