Reflecting On the Year: A Fitting Plant To End 2021
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It is difficult to approach the end of a year without taking at least a quick peek over your shoulder at the days, weeks and months that have passed before the number on the calendar trips over to a new year. Like so many of us, this year at Harmony Hill has brought laughter that lifted our spirits and grief that reached deep into our souls. We had busy times that had our heads spinning, quiet moments that recharged our batteries, days with family surrounding us, and hours in the forests alone. Even with loss still part of 2021, we are filled with the joy and hope found in nature. And when preparing to focus on a species as our last for the year, we were reminded of one wildflower in particular that may very well encompass this year for us. For many reasons, Euonymus americanus is our final discussion on the flora and fauna of Harmony Hill for this year.
If you’ve ambled in the woods with us very much, you’ll know we often mention the problem with common names. From birds to plants, what common names a species is called may depend on geographic location, family tradition or even whimsy. Green Herons (Butorides virescens) can be called Little Herons, Green Bittern or Shitepoke, all depending upon where you are and who you ask! The same barrage of common names accompanies Euonymus americanus. What folks call this plant, outside of the scientific name, is as varied as the weather in March.
Sometimes called American Strawberry Bush, Strawberry Bush and Wahoo Shrub, this plant could fill a small phonebook with its common names. Our personal favorite common names, however; happen to be Hearts-a-bustin’ and, especially, Hearts-a-burstin’, because that is precisely how we feel when we look back at this year focusing on the wonders and beauty found outside at Harmony Hill.
Hearts-a-burstin’ isn’t a horribly uncommon plant across its range of New York to Florida, and westward to Missouri and Texas. Though it prefers moist areas with at least some shade, it can be found in a variety of soil types, from clay to sand. Even with its preference for moist soils, it is not tolerant of standing water or flooding; so, it often found near the creek banks at Harmony Hill.
For much of the year, Hearts-a-burstin’ tends to be a fairly inconspicuous plant. The leaves are not large and neither is the plant itself. While it can grow to six feet in height and even form a thin “hedge”, it tends to be sparse and little more than two to four feet tall at Harmony Hill. The small white flowers that bloom in the late spring are not showy at all. Many people might even walk past them without noticing them as they bloom through May and June.
Come the fall of the year, this nondescript plant takes center stage wherever it is found. Those little white flowers that attracted very little attention in the spring transform into a fruiting body that demands attention! Suddenly, bumpy pods of reddish-lavender that hang from the green stems of the shrub draw your eye directly to them.
As lovely as those pods are, they still have one more gorgeous trick up their sleeves. True to their names, these “hearts” burst wide open to reveal several orange-red seeds, completing a vibrant metamorphosis from small, plain white flowers to nearly neon fruit. And with that transition, it becomes clear where the myriad common names originate. It doesn’t take much imagination to see strawberries and bursting hearts hanging from those stems.
The scientific name provides an added appreciation for this plant. The genus name of Euonymus is a reference to the “honored name” of Euonymus, son of Gaia. Gaia, of course, was the Greek deity who was the personification of Earth and birthed the beauty of nature. Euonymous was also the half-brother of Narcissus (or full brother, depending upon which mythologies you read). With all of the faults of Narcissus, a beautiful flower of the same name sprouted in the spot where he died; bringing another layer to the family connection to plants!
Of course, the species name indicates it found in America.
But are there other Euonymus species found other places? Glad you asked!
There are other, indeed, species found on other continents. Of particular interest, Spindle Tree (Euonymus europaeus) is more familiar to you than you think. The fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty is rooted, forgive the pun, in the Euonymus genus. The spindle that pricked her finger and put her fast asleep was of the Spindle Tree!
All of this is a play upon plants in this genus being poisonous to humans, with vomiting, upset stomach and other serious digestive issues accompanying consumption. As an aside, a number of Native American tribes found ways to utilize this plant to attempt to treat stomach ailments.
Hearts-a-burstin’ reproduces most often by suckers and runners. The seeds of Hearts-a-burstin’ are viable, but are not as a reliable way to propagate when compared to suckers.
A few species of birds, such as Northern Cardinals, thrushes and Northern Mockingbirds dine on the seeds. White-tailed Deer are known to graze readily on the stems of Hearts-a-burstin’, assisting in the pruning of some of the sprouting suckers that might zap the main plant of valuable water and nutrients.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our last virtual nature walk together this year and we hope that, like us, your hearts are a-burstin’ with love for nature and with sincere gratitude for another year to make a positive difference in this world. And we also hope looking more closely at Euonymus americanus has given you a deeper respect for the plants and animals right outside your backdoor.
Thank you for joining us on our visits and we look forward to many more journeys together with you in the new year. Peace and light to you all in 2022!
For our friend, Kurt… you are still loved and lifted. Our hearts are still a-burstin’ with wonderful memories of you. Thank you for your smile and your goodness.