Euonymus atropurpureus aka Bitter Ash

Euonymus atropurpureus, also known as American wahoo, eastern wahoo, burningbush, and hearts bursting with love, is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to eastern North America. It has an irregular upright spreading habit with green twigs that have stripes of conspicuous corky wings. The mid green oval leaves turn red in autumn, adding to its vibrant appeal. In late spring, it produces small dark purple flowers followed by bright red fruits that split open to reveal bright red seeds. This species can grow up to 8 meters tall, with gray, smooth, and lightly fissured bark. The dark purplish-brown twigs are slender, sometimes four-angled or slightly winged. The leaves are opposite, elliptical, and have a finely serrated margin. They are green above, often with fine hairs beneath, and transform into a vibrant red color during fall. The flowers are bisexual, with greenish sepals, brown-purple petals, and stamens, arranged in small axillary cymes. The fruit is a smooth reddish to pink four-lobed capsule, each containing a single seed, and is orange with a fleshy red aril.