Landscaping with the burning bush of the Celastraceae family is quite easy but it is important to know that the plant is toxic to pets, especially cats and dogs. This is mainly because of the cardiac glycosides that the plant contains.

Landscaping with Burning Bush

Therefore, you need to exercise extreme caution with this plant if you decide to benefit from its amazing decorating acumen. This article will unleash various ways – such as hedges – through which you can use the burning bush to beautify your spaces.

Plenty Way for Landscaping With Burning Bush

Please note that the botanical name of the burning bush is Euonymus alatus and other common names include burning tree, burning euonymus, winged spindle-tree, winged burning bush, and winged wahoo. The name probably comes from a story in the Christian bible about a bush that was not affected by flames. 

1. As a Lawn Highlighter

Plants As a Lawn Highlighter

What you need
  • Large space
  • Lawn
  • Burning bush plants
Appearance 
  • The bulk of the space should be covered by a green, well-maintained lawn
  • You can then clear neat circles where you will plant the burning bushes and these should not be close to each other.
  • Plant your dwarf burning bush and take good care of it.
Advantages
  • The contrast between the red color of the burning bush and the lawn will create an amazing outlook.
  • The care needs of the lawn and the burning bush do not interfere with each other so maintenance routines can be done separately
  • There is no harm in combing care routines, in the interest of saving time
Specific care needs
  • Be sure to irrigate the lawn at least two times every week
  • Burning bush is more drought resistant so give it about an inch of water per week when it is established.
  • Younger burning bush plants require more frequent irrigation though

This landscaping design requires more attention in terms of maintaining it. If the lawn or burning bush loses its bright green and red colors, respectively, the appearance won’t be that great anymore.

You can include some pebbles at the bottom of the burning bush if you feel you need a more complicated outlook.

2. As a Hedge

Burning Bush As a Hedge

What you need
  • Enough space
  • Burning bush plants
Appearance outcome
  • You can grow the plant along a fence line.
  • If you prefer a thicker hedge, grow the plants close to each other
  • Ideally, you can grow burning bushes about five to seven feet apart
Advantages
  • The burning bush won’t be competing with other plants for nutrients, sunlight, and other resources
  • The natural hedge forms faster because of the fast-growing nature of the burning bush
  • Easier to maintain, considering that the burning bush is relatively drought resistant and there will be no other plants that require frequent irrigation and attention.
Specific care needs
  • Burning bush can survive under both full sun and partial shade and these conditions are easier to provide
  • There might be no need for constant pruning, especially if you want a thick hedge
  • Prune here and there to give the hedge a clean and neat appearance

The burning bush is naturally a fast-growing plant, which is why it is regarded as invasive in some parts of the world. Therefore, it won’t take much time before the plant forms the hedgy and red look that you desire.

Another advantage of this landscaping method is that apart from the decorative properties involved, it also enhances privacy by shielding the fence line. Such a shield might also be protective.

3. Create a Mixed Shrub Border

Creating Mixed Shrub Border

What you need
  • Different green shrubs
  • Burning bush
Appearance outcome
  • Create a pant border that has a combination of the burning bush and a variety of other green shrubs as companion plants
  • Ensure that between each pair of burning bush plants, there are green shrubs to create contrast like no other
  • It would be great if you can use green shrubs that are relatively drought-resistant like the burning bush, to ease the pressure of maintenance
Advantages
  • The aesthetic attributes that come with this design are simply awesome
  • You can use the design to mark borders and demarcation in your home and garden
Specific care needs
  • Constantly trim down the burning bush so that it doesn’t outcompete the other plants in the mixed border.
  • Find out the care requirements of the plants that you grow together with the burning bush and make sure you follow them to the tee.

There is a wide variety of burning bush companion plants that you can consider in his case. The alpine currant and dwarf European cranberry are some of the best picks that you could consider.

These two plants are relatively drought resistant though moderate watering is recommended for them. The dwarf European cranberry is especially sensitive to overwatering so do everything possible to avoid waterlogged conditions.

4. As a Single Focal Point on Your Front Yard

Growing Burning Bush

What you need
  • Companion plants of the burning bush that can grow under the plant
  • Burning bush
Appearance outcome
  • Let your burning bush grow as big as possible through you can constantly shape it via a pruning
  • Grow companion plants of the burning bush right under it
  • Mixing different companion plants might give an exclusive appearance if you choose the right ones.
Advantages
  • The burning bush is grown together with plants that can properly relate with it
  • The combination of plants gives a unique appearance
Specific care needs
  • Be sure to find out the care requirements of the companion plants so that you apply them
  • Your burning bush prefers soils that range from 6.0 to 7.5
  • If you decide to add fertilizers, the ones that contain more nitrogen are best

The idea here is to create an elegant spot that any pair of eyes will never miss. One of the plants that you consider growing under your burning bush is the Japanese cryptomeria.

This plant prevents the growth of weeds, in addition to preserving the moisture for the burning bush. Other plants that you can consider including are the columbine, bleeding heart, monkey puzzle tree, and the dark knight Caryopteris.

5. As a Foundation Plant

Burning Bush as a Foundation Plant

What you need
  • The preferred spot
  • Burning bush plant
Appearance outcome
  • You can position to plant close to the entryways so that it exudes a welcoming presence
  • You can grow the burning bush plants at the corners of your house where it gives great illumination
Advantages
  • You use plants to create a welcoming atmosphere in your home.
  • The design enhances a vivid appearance in the home
Specific care needs
  • Burning bush requires approximately six hours of exposure to direct sunlight
  • About an inch of water every week is good enough
  • Sous that are well draining and semi-moist are preferable

At one point or another, you will need to prune your burning bush so you are more likely to use any of the four methods that exist. You could do light pruning if your aim is to just shape the plant and maintain its good appearance.

Another option is routine pruning, which is done to enhance new growth, usually during early spring or late winter. When your plant has been either neglected or high;y neglected, that’s when you engage in heavy and severe pruning, respectively.

6. Close to a Water Feature

Burning Bush Near Water Feature

What you need
  • Water feature
  • Burning bush
  • Pebbles
Appearance outcome
  • You can plant the plant close to a pond if you have one
  • If you have a swimming pool, the red hues of the burning bush can reflect in the water feature
  • You can also grow the plant close to a water fountain
Advantages
  • The look that you get is unique because of the involvement of a water feature
  • The resulting look appears more natural and relaxing
  • This sight can be used as a meditation spot
Specific care needs
  • Still make sure that the plant is not exposed to waterlogged conditions.
  • Do not include other plants so that the red reflection comes out well

Although we do not recommend that you include plants to this look, pebbles would be a great addition to the overall appearance. You can place the rocks in such a way that they create the transition from the burning bush to the water feature.

Generally, the pebbles would be like stepping stones directing you from the water feature to the burning bush, a scenario that creates that relaxing look.

 7. As a Screen for an Unappealing Site

Burning Bush in Unappealing Site

What you need
  • A dull space in your yard
  • A spot that you don’t like much
  • Burning bush plant
Appearance outcome
  • Grow the burning bush in such a way that it hides the unwanted features on your yard
  • Make it so decorative that it doesn’t look like you are hiding something
Advantages
  • Design helps to brighten dull spaces on your yard
  • Design assists in neutralizing traumatic or simply bad memories that could be associated with some spots on the yard
Specific care needs
  • Add nitrogen-based fertilizers
  • Temperatures ranges that are around 68 degrees Fahrenheit are best for the survival of your burning bush
  • Make the soil lose by poking it using a garden fork, thereby enhancing well-draining and well-aerated conditions

To enhance the nutritional capacity of the soil for your burning bush, you can use organic fertilizers such as organic matter or manure. If commercially available fertilizers are your best choice, consider mixes like the 20-10-10, 21-7-14, and 16-10-9.

Please, remember never to use clay soils when growing the burning bush. Waterlogged conditions will also greatly hamper the growth of the plant.

8. Burning Bush Behind a Hedge

Burning Bush Behind a Hedge

What you need
  • A well-cut and maintained hedge
  • Burning bush plant
Appearance outcome
  • You should have a green hedge cut to create a flat surface on top.
  • The tallet burning bush should appear from behind the hedge 
Advantages
  • The red and green contrast that results from this design can be breathtaking.
  • The sloping look from the burning bush to the hedge and then the floor is quite unique
Specific care needs
  • Take good care of the hedge
  • Follow the care needs for the burning bush

You can do this design along the pathways in your home. Alternatively, you can start from the entryways to create a more welcoming atmosphere.

Conclusion

The burning bush can be used for amazing landscaping designs, as you might have noticed as you read through this article. Now, let’s seal what you know by summarizing the main highlights from the article:

  • You can grow the burning bush alone or in combination with other plants.
  • You can add an extra touch of nature in some designs by including pebbles and water features.
  • The burning bush is a fast-growing plant that needs to be monitored by constantly pruning it.
  • You can grow the burning bush as a hedge, foundation plant, lawn highlighter, or as part of a mixed border.

If one of the questions that you had was, “Are burning bushes poisonous to humans?” the answer is a resounding yes. You just need to exercise caution around the plant while you enjoy your red-burning beauty!

5/5 - (5 votes)