Hello, on our walk at the West Woods, I have many times gone past this tree and it has these flowers on it. I took pictures of the flowers. The tree and some of the leaves that fell on the ground. Can you please tell me what kind of tree this is? It is beautiful in the fall.
The tree you are referring to is a non-native tree known as the European spindle tree (Euonymus europaeus).
It has brilliant fall foliage and interesting and colorful seed capsules that people often mistake as flowers.
Being that this is a non-native plant and it can compete with our native trees and shrubs, we discourage anyone from planting it. Other options to plant are American hazelnut, common witch-hazel, red twig dogwood, spicebush and winterberry to name a few.
Click here for a link to the alternative native plant list from the Ohio Invasive Plants Council, and for more information on the European spindle tree, click here for a link from Vermont Invasives.
Thank you for your inquiry.
-Naturalist Denise Wolfe
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