Hearts-a-bustin’
Photo by Scott Zona, some rights reserved.
Love is in the air for the hearts-a-bustin’ shrub
Hearts-a-bustin’ (Euonymus americanus) is breaking hearts with its enthralling scarlet fruit capsules and bright fall color. This unique shrub is native to the Southeast, including Florida, and can be found on wooded slopes, in damp understory forest areas, and around stream banks. It’s an ideal plant for shaded areas in the landscape and can be a great addition to a rain garden or native garden.
Characteristics
Hearts-a-bustin’ is also known as strawberry bush for its fruits’ resemblance to strawberries. The brightly colored fruits are delectable to birds and small mammals. They are attracted to the seed covering, called an aril, which provides nutrition like fat and sugar. The fruits are also quite textured, with wart-like bumps on the surface of the skin. These colorful capsules are displayed between September and October and are a delight to gardeners who enjoy the eye-catching color and wildlife-viewing opportunities. They are 1 to 3 inches, with five lobes that split open to reveal red-orange seeds in the fall, hence the name “hearts-a-bustin’.” Just use caution when planting—the fruits and other parts of the plant are not edible and mildly toxic to humans.
After fruiting in the fall, the shrub’s leaves change color, adding bright yellow, orange, and red hues to the landscape. With leaf color change being a rare occurrence in Florida, this feature should appeal to anyone who loves fall color. In the winter, hearts-a-bustin’ sheds its leaves, but the stems remain green and transition to purple when exposed to sunlight. During the rest of the year, the foliage is bright green. The leaves are oval-shaped, roughly 3 inches long, and attract deer and rabbits, so hearts-a-bustin’ might need protection in some areas. In the spring, small non-showy blooms with five yellow-green petals and purple stamens will appear.
This multi-stemmed deciduous shrub spreads by rhizomes, and if stem nodes come into contact with the ground, they may develop roots. It typically grows 6 to 7 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide. When young, the plant tends to sprawl out, but as it matures it takes on an upright growth pattern. Hearts-a-bustin’ works as a foundation or border, and can be planted in groups for a more striking appearance.
Planting and Care
Photo by Mary Keim, some rights reserved.
Hearts-a-bustin’ works well in the North and Central Florida landscape, USDA Hardiness Zones 6a to 9b. It can be grown in full shade, but fruits best in part-shade. It likes moist soil, but only tolerates occasional wet conditions. This shrub can handle a variety of soils, spanning from sandy to clay. Hearts-a-bustin’ is one of the few plants that can be planted near black walnut trees, which are known to inhibit the growth of plants nearby. Native to moisture-rich forests of the eastern United States, it does well under tree canopies in woodland areas. Its drought tolerance is minimal, and the plant must be watered and mulched in the heat of the summer.
Hearts-a-bustin’ can withstand heavy pruning if you want to shape or control the growth of your plant. Propagation by seeds or cuttings is the best course of action. The seeds need to be stratified for one to three months, and cuttings can be taken whenever the plant has leaves. Be on the lookout for pest and disease problems like euonymus scale and crown gall.
Hearts-a-bustin’ can add a touch of whimsy to any landscape, providing colorful fruits and fall foliage. It’s the perfect plant for drawing wildlife to the landscape or simply adding joy to your yard.