The article below was published in House Digest. If you live or do business in Massachusetts it is important to know that burning bush (also called Winged Euonymus) have been banned. They are very popular in the Eastern states especially because of their ability to overcome difficult situations. They are usually planted in groups or rows. When talking to customers it is important to know not to recommend these plants. If there are insect or disease issues, you will probably lean towards removal and replacing with something else. If you do business in Massachusetts and/ or New Hampshire and send out a newsletter, it is important to let your customers know about this new law. This shrub was already banned in New Hampshire.
Here's Why The Burning Bush Shrub Is Banned In Massachusetts
Story by V Bawa House Digest
Burning bush (Euonymus alatus) is a native Asian shrub that's found today in 25 states, specifically in the Midwest and eastern states like Massachusetts, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. While the burning bush can add brilliant decoration to a garden thanks to its bright, fiery colors, the shrub is also recognized as an invasive species (in 21 states) due to its ability to push out native plants and disrupt local ecosystem (via Brandywine Conservancy). For this reason, in states like Massachusetts, the burning bush shrub is banned.
The Bay State declared the burning bush invasive in 2005 and officially banned its importation in 2006. Three years later, Massachusetts also banned the propagation of the shrub. If you currently have a burning bush shrub in you Massachusetts home or find that it's banned in the state you're in, you're strongly encouraged to remove it or at least control its spread.
The Right Way To Use The Shrub
As mentioned, burning bush shrubs can disturb the order of your local ecosystem and cause biodiversity loss. It's also named the "burning bush" because it can be a fire hazard due to its oils, which can ignite and burn. People still plant it, however (in states where the sale of it isn't banned, as it is in Massachusetts and New Hampshire) because of its beautiful foliage that can add visual interest to a landscape Burning Bush also easy to grow, low maintenance, and highly adaptable to various soil, light, and weather conditions.