Euonymus americanus (Strawberry Bush)

Native to the central and eastern United States, this deciduous shrub grows on wooded slopes, in moist woodlands and near streams. Slender, green, square stems carry opposite leaves and small, five-petaled yellow-green flowers in late spring. In autumn, warty red capsules split into lobes to expose bright orange-red seeds, inspiring the names strawberry bush and hearts-a-bustin. The shrub spreads by suckers, and its foliage can turn red before falling. The plant is poisonous if eaten, particularly in large quantities. Photographed in Virginia.