1. Brendon J Panke, Mark J Renz, Laura G Jull
Comparison of seed production and viability of burning bush (Euonymus alatus) cultivars in the Upper Midwest.
Brendon J Panke, Mark J Renz, Laura G Jull

2. Background
Ornamental problem.
Introductions
Cultivars

3. Euonymus alatus Native to northeastern Asia. Hardy to zone 4b.
Deciduous shrub.
Tolerant full sun to partial shade, pH adaptable, no serious pests.

5. Objectives
Compare a suite of burning bush cultivars in terms of a number of factors that contribute to invasiveness.
Lay groundwork for the development of an objective process for the comparison of the relative invasiveness of cultivars.
Use that groundwork to survey the Green Industry and Invasive Community for ideas on such a process.

6. Euonymus Cultivars Cultivar Size Hardiness Comments ‘Compactus’
6-8’ tall x 8’ wide.
Zone 4b.
Standard in nursery trade.
‘Nordine’
10’ tall x 10’ wide.
Zone 4a.
More fruit than species.
Low availability, but popular in past.
‘Select’ (Fire Ball™)
4-7’ tall x 3-5’ wide.
Zone 4.
Less winter damage than species.
‘Timber Creek’ (Chicago Fire™)
8-10’ tall x 6-8’ wide.
Introduced in 1995.
‘Tures’
6-8’ tall.
‘Rudy Haag’
4-5’ tall x 5’ wide.
Slow growth rate (3’ high x 3.5’ wide in 15 years).
Reported as nearly seedless.
Introduced 1963 and production is increasing.

7. Process 3a Lab Germination. 2 1 Run a TZ test to determine viability.
Count and Collect Seed from the field.
Run a TZ test to determine viability.
Field Germination and Survival.
Lab Germination. 1 2 3a 3b

8. Sites UW-Madison Arboretum. Boerner Botanical Gardens. Nurseries
Mc Kay.
Johnson’s.
Beaver Creek.
Tures & Sons.

10. Methods Count and collect seed on individuals of each cultivar TZ test
13-26 plants of each cultivar.
TZ test
4 reps.
25 seeds per rep.
Lab germination.
100 seeds
3 months warm stratification.
3 months cold stratification.
Field germination
2 sites.
6 blocks.

11. Number of fruit per plant by cultivar

12. Fruit per volume of plant by cultivar

13. Percent of seed viable by cultivar

14. Viable fruit per volume of plant by cultivar

15. Lab Germination Four Trials run.
100 seeds per trial.
Trial 1 – Cold stratification then germination.
Trial 2-4 – 3 months warm stratification and then 3 months cold stratification.
No germination observed.

16. Field Germination
After a year, thank goodness plants are actually growing.
Started to record early season data.

17. Most produced a lot. One produced none. Emergence 2 years.

18. Further Work Finish Field germination, field survival. Surveys.
More data. Particularly in regards to variability. (Clark, Lewis, and Horvath The American Naturalist)
Include 'Odom' (Little Moses™) in further analysis.

19. Thank you University of Wisconsin-Extension Horticulture Team.
UW-Madison Arboretum.
Boerner Botanical Gardens.
Mc Kay Nursery.
Johnson’s Nursery.
Beaver Creek Nursery.
Tures & Sons Nursery.