Fire Ball Burning Bush Live Plant – Compact Shrub, 4 inch pot, Outdoor

Overview

Introduce a burst of fiery color to your garden with the Fire Ball Burning Bush live plant, a remarkable deciduous shrub celebrated for its intense red fall foliage. This improved selection of burning bush, scientifically known as Euonymus alatus ‘Select’, offers a more compact growth habit and exceptional hardiness compared to traditional varieties. Unlike some burning bushes, the ‘Fire Ball’ cultivar is seedless, preventing unwanted spread and making it a more environmentally responsible choice for your landscape. Its dense, upright branching creates a neat and attractive form throughout the year, culminating in an unforgettable autumn spectacle. This live plant is delivered ready to thrive in your outdoor spaces, bringing reliable beauty season after season.

The common name “burning bush” aptly describes the brilliant, almost glowing scarlet leaves that emerge in autumn, reminiscent of Moses’ burning bush experience. This particular variety, Fire Ball Burning Bush live plant, has been specifically bred for better stem hardiness, ensuring it stands up to harsh midwestern winters without the die-back often seen in other types. Its robust nature and manageable size make it a versatile addition to various garden designs, from mixed borders to foundation plantings.

Key Benefits

The Fire Ball Burning Bush live plant offers a multitude of advantages for gardeners seeking vibrant, low-maintenance beauty. Its exceptional characteristics make it a standout choice for adding year-round interest and spectacular fall color to any landscape.

• Dramatic Fall Foliage: Enjoy an unparalleled display of brilliant, fiery red leaves each autumn. The intense coloration of this compact burning bush creates a stunning focal point in any garden, transforming your landscape into a vibrant tapestry of color.
• Superior Winter Hardiness: This variety boasts improved stem hardiness, allowing it to withstand severe winter conditions without experiencing the die-back common in other burning bush types. It’s a reliable performer even in colder climates, ensuring consistent beauty.
• Compact Growth Habit: With a mature height of approximately 7 feet, the Fire Ball Burning Bush live plant is more compact than traditional burning bushes, which can reach up to 10 feet. This makes it an ideal choice for smaller gardens or areas where space is a consideration, fitting perfectly into various landscape designs.
• Seedless Variety: As a seedless cultivar, ‘Fire Ball’ prevents the spread of seeds into natural areas, offering an environmentally conscious option for gardeners concerned about invasive species. This feature ensures your garden remains beautiful without unintended consequences.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, this hardy burning bush is relatively low-maintenance, requiring minimal care to thrive. Its robust nature makes it a great choice for both experienced and novice gardeners looking for reliable performance.
• Year-Round Appeal: While its fall color is legendary, the dense, upright branching provides architectural interest in the winter, and its lush green foliage offers a pleasant backdrop during spring and summer, making this red fall foliage shrub a truly year-round asset.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Fire Ball Burning Bush live plant is straightforward, ensuring years of vibrant fall color. This hardy shrub thrives with minimal intervention once established, making it a favorite among gardeners. Proper planting and ongoing care will help it develop its full potential and stunning autumn display.

For optimal growth and the most intense fall color, plant your Fire Ball Burning Bush live plant in a location that receives full sun to partial shade. Full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily) will generally produce the most vibrant red foliage. While it tolerates a range of soil types, well-draining soil is crucial to prevent root rot. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter to improve drainage. Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a strong root system, typically once or twice a week, or more frequently during hot, dry spells. Once established, it is relatively drought-tolerant but will benefit from occasional deep watering during prolonged dry periods.

The red fall foliage shrub is adaptable to various conditions, but consistent moisture during establishment is key. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer formulated for trees and shrubs to encourage healthy growth and vibrant coloration. Pruning can be done in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges to maintain its desired shape and size, or to remove any dead or damaged branches. This compact burning bush typically has good disease and pest resistance, but monitor for common issues. Its superior hardiness makes it a resilient choice for many climates, contributing to its reputation as a reliable and beautiful addition to any landscape.

Size & Details

The Fire Ball Burning Bush live plant is a vigorous, deciduous shrub that will arrive as a healthy, actively growing plant in a 4-inch nursery pot, ready for planting. This improved cultivar is characterized by its slightly more compact habit compared to other burning bush varieties, making it an excellent choice for various landscape applications. At maturity, it typically reaches a height of about 7 feet and a similar spread, forming a dense, upright, and rounded shrub. Its moderate growth rate allows it to quickly establish in your garden, providing significant visual impact within a few seasons.

This seedless burning bush is known for its tighter branching, which contributes to its neat appearance year-round. The plant will develop its signature fiery red fall color as the seasons change, offering a spectacular autumn display. It should be planted in well-draining soil and given adequate space to reach its mature size. Its robust nature ensures it will thrive and become a long-lasting feature in your garden, delivering reliable seasonal interest and dramatic coloration.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Fire Ball Burning Bush live plant get? A: The Fire Ball Burning Bush live plant is a compact variety that typically grows to about 7 feet tall and wide at maturity. This makes it a better fit for many landscapes compared to other burning bush types that can reach up to 10 feet.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: This is an outdoor shrub, specifically designed for landscape planting. It thrives in various outdoor conditions and is celebrated for its hardiness and vibrant fall color in garden settings.
• Q: How much sunlight does the Fire Ball Burning Bush need? A: For the most intense and brilliant red fall foliage, the Fire Ball Burning Bush live plant prefers full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. It can tolerate partial shade, but the fall color may be less vibrant.
• Q: What condition will the Fire Ball Burning Bush arrive in? A: Your Fire Ball Burning Bush live plant will arrive as a healthy, actively growing plant in a 4-inch nursery pot, carefully packaged to ensure its safe journey. It will be ready for immediate planting upon arrival.
• Q: When is the best time to plant this hardy burning bush? A: The best time to plant your Fire Ball Burning Bush is in spring or early fall. This allows the plant sufficient time to establish its root system before extreme summer heat or winter cold sets in.
• Q: Is this compact burning bush easy to care for? A: Yes, the Fire Ball Burning Bush live plant is considered relatively easy to care for. Once established, it is low-maintenance, requiring regular watering during dry periods and occasional fertilization, making it suitable for gardeners of all experience levels.
• Q: Will the Fire Ball Burning Bush survive winter in my zone? A: This variety is known for its superior winter hardiness, with better stem hardiness than typical dwarf burning bushes. It has shown no winter damage even in cold midwestern winters, making it a reliable choice for many USDA zones.