Eastern Wahoo in Autumn

Eastern Wahoo in AutumnAll the wildflowers have gone to fruit and seeds. This shot is from November 19. Wahoo is a Dakota term for this plant, which means “arrow wood.” Native to North America, related to bittersweet and also to the non-native invasive kind of euonymous.

Eastern Wahoo (Euonymous atropurpureus)

Eastern Wahoo

I had a hard time identifying this flowering tree, and I know you think I gave up and made up a name, but no, really, it’s an Eastern Wahoo! In late spring it has a purple flower, and now it has these red four-lobed fruit capsules that open to expose the seeds. It’s really beautiful and showy. Why haven’t people planted it everywhere? Where can I put one? Bittersweet family (which explains why the part opening to reveal the seed looks so similar to bittersweet). Native.
Eastern Wahoo, Burning Bush (Euonymus atropurpureus)