The biggest problem with burning bush is that it makes huge amounts of seeds that birds spread into wild areas. Those seeds grow into dense stands that push native species out. One pretty shrub in your yard can turn into hundreds of invasive plants in a nearby forest within just a few years.
As a burning bush invasive species, it earned its reputation through real damage I've seen firsthand. I found burning bush seedlings growing in a wooded ravine behind my neighbor's property about three years ago. The nearest planted burning bush sat in a yard over 200 feet away. Birds had carried the seeds across lawns, over a fence, and deep into the tree line. By the time I spotted them, there were already a dozen young plants taking root in the understory.
The invasion works because burning bush has a competitive advantage that native shrubs lack. Birds eat the red berries in fall and deposit seeds throughout forests and open areas. Those seeds sprout in spring and grow into dense stands that block sunlight from reaching the forest floor. Native plants like spicebush and maple-leaf viburnum can't grow in the deep shade under a burning bush thicket. Deer make the problem worse because they avoid eating burning bush while browsing on native shrubs. This selective feeding gives burning bush even more room to take over.
The numbers from the USDA Forest Service paint a grim picture. Researchers counted 7,809 stems per hectare in invaded Illinois hill prairies. That density leaves almost no room for other plants to survive. Seed viability runs about 38% at three months after falling from the plant, dropping to just 2% at twelve months in the soil. That short but potent window is enough for thousands of seeds to germinate and establish new plants each spring.
The burning bush ecological damage extends beyond just crowding out other plants. When native understory species disappear, the insects that depend on them vanish too. Specialist caterpillars that feed on native shrubs can't eat burning bush leaves. Fewer caterpillars means less food for nesting songbirds that need thousands of insects to raise each clutch of chicks. The entire food chain weakens one link at a time as burning bush replaces the native plants that support it.
You should check whether your own burning bush is spreading. Scout the area around it each spring. Walk within 100 feet (30 meters) of the parent plant and look for small seedlings with paired leaves and serrated edges. Pull any you find while they're still small. If you spot them in wooded or natural areas, think about removing the parent plant. I ended up doing that with mine and don't regret it one bit.
You can replace your burning bush with a native shrub that feeds your local wildlife instead of harming it. Your yard doesn't need an invasive plant to look good in the fall. The sooner you catch the spread, the easier your cleanup job will be.
Read the full article: Burning Bush Shrub Care and Facts
