The Growing Concern October 2021 by Sandy Munley

Growing Concern

The

O CTO B ER 2 0 2 1

A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E O H I O L A N D S C A P E A S S O C I AT I O N

Central Ohio Landscape Facility Tour October 12, 2021 / Yard Solutions (Groveport, OH) / PAGE 24

OLA Annual Meeting: Strategies to Accelerate Revenue November 18, 2021 / St. Michael’s Woodside (Broadview Heights, OH) / PAGE 7

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PR ES I DEN T’S COLUM N

THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS NEEDED, NOW!

JAMES FUNAI, PhD

Cuyahoga Community College

If you’re an owner, or in upper management at your company… take this article, make copies, and hand it to everyone under 40 on your crews, because I’m talking to them today! Back in the early 2000s, I was relatively new to the OLA. The company I worked for was heavily vested in the organization, so they would send me to clinics and meetings whenever it made sense. At the time, being in my younger 20s, I felt like a little kid next to most of our members. Most seemed to have been in the industry and a part of the organization forever, and they all knew each other. To that end, I would huddle in a corner with a few of my co-workers, doing my best to remain invisible.

What I share with you today, I share in hopes that you move a little faster than I did when it comes to getting involved with YOUR association. As an educator, I want you to realize your full potential. As OLA President, I want to tap into your expertise and experiences to help make this a better organization for everyone!

Looking back, I let my shyness and the feeling I had nothing to contribute get in the way of me furthering my career and my ability to give back to the industry – and association – that I was now a part of.

What I didn’t realize in my 20s, which I understand almost alltoo-well now, is that many of us allow ourselves to fall captive to a “mental prison” based on our age. What I mean by this is, we tend to build our realities based on our perception of “how things are” for the people who are most like us. Age is just one of those factors.

It wasn’t until my early 30s that I began to step up. I volunteered a little here, spoke up a little there... I was finding my footing. And then, in my mid 30s, I jumped in headfirst. Eventually, I was asked to take a spot on the Board of Directors, and now – at the age of 42 – I’m serving as the organization’s president.

The trouble with this is, when our perceptions begin to balloon because we’ve surrounded ourselves with a bunch of like-minded/similar individuals, we tend to close ourselves off to alternate realities. For example, if I sit in a board meeting and say, “Americans don’t want to work these days,” and the continued on page 6 The Growing Concern | October 2021 | 3

TAB LE OF CON TEN TS O C T O B E R 2 0 2 1 WWW. OH I OLA N D SCA P E R S. OR G OH I O’ S P R OF E SSI ON A L G REEN I N D U ST R Y A SSOCI AT I O N OHIO LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION 9240 Broadview Road Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147 Phone: 440.717.0002 Toll Free: 1.800.335.6521 Web: www.ohiolandscapers.org and www.myohiolandscape.com DESIGNER / EDITOR Rick Doll, Jr. REGULAR WRITERS Michael J. Donnellan, King Financial, Inc. Dr. Jim Funai, PhD., Cuyahoga Community College Shelley Funai, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens Sandy Munley, Ohio Landscape Association Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, Bobbie’s Green Thumb COVER: Landscape Ohio! Merit Award winner, The Bremec Group, for their entry in the category of Landscape Lighting.

FEATURES

3 5 8 12 16 20 26 30 34 35

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

The Next Generation of Leaders is Needed, Now!

NEW MEMBERS PERENNIAL FOCUS

Eragrostis spectabilis: Purple Love Grass

FISCAL FITNESS

Settling Your Spouse’s Estate

ADVERTISING INFORMATION Submission deadline: 10th of the month, prior to the month of publication. For advertising rates and ad specs, please call 440.717.0002, 1.800.335.6521, or email Rick Doll Jr. at rick@ohiolandscapers.org. DISCLAIMER The Ohio Landscape Association, its board of directors, staff and the editor of The Growing Concern neither endorse any product(s) or attests to the validity of any statements made about products mentioned in this, past or subsequent issues of this publication. Similarly, the opinions expressed in The Growing Concern are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Ohio Landscape Association.

FOR SAFETY SAKE

OFFICERS President James Funai, PhD

OLA STAFF Executive Director Sandy Munley

PLANT OF THE MONTH

President – Elect Brian Maurer, LIC

Communications & Events Manager Rick Doll, Jr.

Operating Leaf Blowers Safely Euonymus Americanus & E. Atropurpueurs: Strawberry Bush & Eastern Wahoo

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DIRECTIONS ADVERTISING INDEX

4 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Treasurer Stephanie Gray, LIC Immediate Past President Domenic Lauria DIRECTORS Brandon Barker Keith Clapper Ryan Drake Cameron Maneri Rob Morel Jeff Rupp, LIC

C AL ENDAR OF EVEN TS UPCO M I N G OLA MEETINGS , EDUC AT I ON SE MI N A R S, A N D OT H E R G R E E N I N D UST R Y EV ENT S

OCTOBER

DECEMBER cont...

OCTOBER 7 PLANT HEALTHCARE DAY

DECEMBER 16 STONE VENEER CLINIC (NE Ohio)

This full-day workshop combines all aspects of Plant Health Care (PHC) for both technicians and managers, with live demonstrations of PHC techniques and services based on the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and proactive tree care management. Held on the grounds of Secrest Arboretum, located in Wooster, OH. (Capacity Limited)

This hands-on clinic will teach the basics of mixing mortar, installing and grouting stone veneer. The techniques you will learn can be applied to both manufactured and natural stone. The demand for veneers has increased and this is a great opportunity to learn how to apply it in house. Sponsored and hosted by Valley City Supply in Valley City, OH. See page 25 for more information. (Capacity Limited)

OCTOBER 12 CENTRAL OHIO FACILITY TOUR (Yard Solutions) Established in 1990, Yard Solutions is an organization with a strong set of values and is dedicated to providing outdoor environments that enrich people’s lives. They are committed to employee development and the customer experience. Join us as we tour Yard Solutions’ facility, located in Groveport, OH. See page 24 for more information. (Capacity Limited)

NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 18 OLA ANNUAL MEETING (NE OHIO) Heidi Szeltner, Outreach Manager for Cuyahoga Community College and their Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Partnership will discuss Growth Strategies to help accelerate revenue. Held at St. Michael’s Woodside. See page 7 for more information.

DECEMBER DECEMBER 7 DORMANT PRUNING (Central Ohio) Dormant Pruning of landscape plants is a half-day, handson clinic and a timely training opportunity for you and your crews to learn the proper pruning techniques. Held at Premier Plant Services in Hilliard, Ohio. See page 32 for more information. (Capacity Limited)

DECEMBER 9 DORMANT PRUNING (NE Ohio) Dormant Pruning of landscape plants is a half-day, handson clinic and a timely training opportunity for you and your crews to learn the proper pruning techniques. Held at Willoway Nurseries in Avon, Ohio. See page 32 for more information. (Capacity Limited)

DECEMBER 17 25th ANNUAL LANDSCAPE OHIO! AWARDS DEADLINE Now is the time to start prepping your entries for this year’s awards program, as the entry deadline is fast approaching. For more information on how to enter, including rules and entry forms, visit www.ohiolandscapers.org/awards-program

JANUARY 2022 JANUARY 20, 2022 OLA MEETING Jarrett Herold / CEO of Electric Sheep Held at St. Michael’s Woodside. Sponsorship opportunities still available. For more info call the OLA Office at 440.717.0002. Registration will open in Fall of 2021.

COMING IN 2022 (Tentative) JANUARY: Design Clinic / Sketch Up FEBRUARY: CPR Training MARCH: Foreman Training / NE & Central Ohio MARCH: NE Ohio Evening Meeting

OLA’s NEW MEMBERS

The Ohio Landscape Association is delighted to welcome the following new members to the association:

REGULAR MEMBERS

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Emerald Green Pro 5492 Sierra Drive Westerville, OH 43082 Vic Schroeder (937) 265-5580

Omega GPS Tracking PO Box 796 Aurora, OH 44202 Rachel Hays (216) 780-8499

The Growing Concern | October 2021 | 5

PR ES IDEN T’S COLUM N continued from page 3 board perceives the same “truth,” then we as a board will make decisions and take actions based on our shared (but distorted and unchecked) reality. This is just one of many examples of why YOUR VOICE is so important! The highest level of functionality in our leadership will come when someone hears a statement similar to the example, stands up, and voices their difference of perception. They may say, “ALL Americans? Or just the pool you keep trying to tap into?” Challenging our ideas and perceptions is the absolute best thing we can do to grow this organization. So, how do we begin to challenge the current ideas? It’s actually quite simple. We diversify the organization and its leadership. The lowest form of diversity we have in our leadership, currently, is that it is mostly made up of company owners and/or high-level managers. Naturally, this occurs because they have the most time to allocate, as well as the experience to lead, which are both great traits. However, if leadership only consists of similar individuals in similar roles it becomes an echo chamber and will not grow.

That said, we need to diversify by encouraging crew members, crew leaders, office staff, etc. to step up and join in the conversations. We also need to diversify by gender, as while we used to be a male dominated industry, that is (thankfully) rapidly changing. We also need to diversify by race, religion, orientation, you name it. We need different ideas and views to grow. We MAY even benefit from finding people who don’t understand that Yucca is the dumbest plant possible in our landscapes – if such a person exists! What I am asking today, as you read this, is that you find the courage to step up and call or email Sandy, or Rick, at the OLA office and ask how you can start to make a difference. Your opinion is needed. Your vision of what this industry can be is needed. YOU are needed. We need members who can challenge the “way things are” to find a path to the way things should be. We currently are not a very diverse (in all senses of the word) industry. Will you help lead us to a better green industry for tomorrow?

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FORE F EATUR

EVENT INFORMATION

DATE & LOCATION NOVEMBER 18, 2021 ST. MICHAEL’S WOODSIDE 5025 EAST MILL ROAD BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, OH AGENDA REGISTRATION / NETWORKING FOOD / CASH BAR 6:00 PM TO 7:00 PM OLA ANNUAL MEETING 7:00 PM TO 7:30 PM PROGRAM 7:30 PM TO 9:00 PM

SAR AFETY T IC L ESAKE

OLA MEETINGS SERIES

OLA ANNUAL MEETING

Growth Strategies to Accelerate Revenue To create a high growth company business owners need the mindset, tools, and resources iconic CEOs use every day to take their corporations to the next level. Achieving high growth is a choice. Once the decision is made a new set of skills, focus and discipline are required to deliver and sustain high growth. In addition to our Annual Business Meeting, Heidi Szeltner, Outreach Manager for Cuyahoga Community College and their Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Partnership will discuss how small business owners can identify their most pressing barriers to growth within their businesses. She will be joined by Rhoni Thompson, CEO of R.L. Cole Enterprise and a Green Industry Business Owner (TBD). You’ll come away with practical hands-on action steps, new tools and resources, and a plan to put into motion that will effect change immediately in your organization.

COST TO ATTEND MEMBERS: NO CHARGE NON MEMBERS: $30

Heidi and her guests will discuss: • The mindset that might be holding your company back. • Why different perspectives are necessary. • How to ensure that you are keeping your best employees. • How to ask your accountant the right questions. • Why negotiation is key.

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Heidi Szeltner is the Outreach Manager for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®). She recruits small business owners that strive to grow their business, create jobs, and provide economic opportunity in Northeast Ohio. The Goldman Sachs 10KSB curriculum focuses on practical skills that business owners can immediately put into action within their company. Over the course of the program, owners gain the skills needed to recognize new opportunities, embrace practices that increase business growth, and ultimately develop a customized growth plan for their business Prior to joining Tri-C, Heidi worked at Cleveland State University managing the CFO’s office and the Supplier Diversity Initiative for the University. Prior to working in higher education, Heidi worked in business development in the insurance industry, as well as a marketing specialist in the non-profit sector. She is a two-time alumna of Cleveland State University, having received her Master’s degree in CSU’s Diversity Management Program, as well as her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing.

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SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS YEAR’S MEETING SCHEDULE ARE STILL AVAILABLE. CALL 440.717.0002 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

PEREN N I AL FOCUS

BOBBIE SCHWARTZ, FAPLD Bobbie’s Green Thumb

Eragrostis spectabilis in bloom.

ERAGROSTIS SPECTABILIS

PURPLE LOVE GRASS

Eragrostis spectabilis is a sorely underused ornamental grass. Native to the U.S. and Canada, it can perform as part of a matrix in a meadow or prairie planting, but also works well in a perennial garden to provide textural contrast, as long as it is in full sun. Although very drought tolerant (once established), it is quite adaptable to moister sites, as long as the soil is well-drained.

delicate inflorescence create an airy, halo effect above the loosely mounding, bluish-green foliage which is usually about a foot high and wide. The inflorescence reaches roughly another foot high, but is see-through. As the seeds mature in October, the inflorescence usually detaches from the plant and blows along the ground like a tumbleweed, distributing seed as it goes. You can prevent seeding by pruning the inflorescence at that time.

Eragrostis spectabilis is a dense clumper that is rhizomatous. When blooming (late summer and fall), the pinkish-purple,

The toughness of this grass is demonstrated by its resiliency in pavement edges and in parking lots. It is both salt and continued on page 10

8 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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Rain garden; Lobelia cardinalis, Sesleria autumnalis, Eragrostis spectabilis.

continued from page 8 deer tolerant, as well as drought tolerant. Happily, it can also be grown near Black Walnut Trees. It would be quite useful in controlling soil erosion, or as a tall lawn substitute. Amazingly, this grass is also used in rain gardens, usually at the top or on a slope. In 2015, while on a PPA tour of gardens near Annapolis, I visited several gardens on properties abutting the Severn River, which drains into the Chesapeake Bay. Construction regulations specified the need for drainage intervention, since the area tends to flood periodically. Large beds between the houses and the river were designed with grasses and perennials that could withstand very wet conditions, as well as very dry ones. Eragrostis spectabilis was used on all of the sites we saw.

heavy clay soil found in Cuyahoga County, so we amended it heavily with Turface MVP. The Eragrostis is thriving and looks spectacular in late summer, when both it and the Verbena bonariensis – with which it is interplanted – are in bloom. Purple Love Grass has so many attributes that I’m sure you will now start including it in your designs.

Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, owner of Bobbie’s Green Thumb in Shaker Hts., Ohio, is a landscape designer, consultant, freelance writer, and lecturer whose specialties are perennial gardens and four season landscapes. In addition to being an Ohio Landscape Association (OLA) member, she is an active member of the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA) and Perennial Plant Association (PPA). Bobbie is a Past President of the Association of Professional

I’m not sure why Eragrostis is described as short-lived, but I suspect that it is only short-lived where the drainage is not good. I included it in a suburban Cleveland xeriscape that was installed in the spring of 2020. The site had the usual

10 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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The Growing Concern | October 2021 | 11

F I SCAL FI TN ESS

MICHAEL J. DONNELLAN M3 Wealth Management

SETTLING YOUR SPOUSE’S ESTATE Settling an estate takes time and patience. For many families, it may be two years before the entire estate is settled completely. If you are the surviving spouse and executor of the estate, it’s important to prepare for the time this process takes. WILL VERSUS TRUST

GETTING STARTED ON ESTATE MANAGEMENT

Many families have a will because they’re quite simple to set up. If you’re the executor of a will, it controls how you’ll distribute assets. A will must first go through probate court, which is a legal process formally appointing you as executor to administer the deceased’s estate.

Organize important information. Collect documents such as life insurance policies, birth certificates, military discharge papers, marriage certificates and real estate titles. Gather financial records such as bank, brokerage and retirement account statements. Also collect any documents stored in a safety deposit box or personal safe.

A revocable trust is similar to a will in that it guides you in how to distribute assets, but it skips the probate process. Clients with larger and more complex estates with multiple properties in different states often choose revocable trusts, for privacy and probate avoidance. While trusts don’t require court oversight, as the trustee, you do have a fiduciary duty to administer the assets listed in the trust as specified in the document.

12 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Get help. Engage a team of professionals to help you. A lawyer can help with probate court and getting the estate tax ID or EIN number established for the trust. Contact affected parties. Notify financial institutions, government agencies and billing companies (like utilities) about the death. This will help you manage and close continued on page 14 accounts as appropriate.

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F ISCAL FI TN ESS

continued from page 12 Collect assets. You’re responsible for managing those assets as guided by the wishes listed in the will or trust until distribution. Distribute assets. Emotions often escalate when it’s time to distribute property, especially in larger families. For assets not specifically identified in the trust or will, it’s a good idea to have all family members agree on the system used to distribute assets. It could be simple, like drawing a name out of a hat for items one at a time, and then reversing the order when finished, or providing all family members with numbered cards they can attach to household items prioritizing their interests. Everyone agreeing on a system helps move the process forward. Request documentation. Ask for plenty of original death certificates from the funeral home or county where the person passed away to assist with anything requiring a title change. It takes time and money to get them later, slowing the process. Pay estate taxes and expenses. If your spouse was retired and paying estimated taxes on a quarterly basis, as executor of the estate you’ll now be responsible for managing those payments up until date of death.

14 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Determine step-up value, if applicable. Assets in the estate may benefit from a step-up value. If securities or real estate are in your spouse’s name, you have two options to set a new valuation for those items: the date of death, or an alternative valuation date of six months after the date of death. Keep in mind, if the market values change significantly between the two dates, it may affect the value of the asset and possibly estate taxes. Work with your attorney and CPA to determine the best plan for the estate. Understand your obligation to the estate. You have a fiduciary duty to follow the word of the will or trust. Relatives may not agree with decisions you make, and legal action is a possibility. Negotiation and mediation are two ways to help family members reach an agreement. Consider using professionals. Establishing and managing a trust can be very complex. You may want to consider partnering with a seasoned, professional trustee who has the experience and resources necessary to handle the details and requirements of trust administration, as well as the objectivity to make impartial decisions.

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F OR SAFETY SAK E

OPERATING LEAF BLOWERS SAFELY Leaf blowers are extremely useful in our industry. They allow us to clean leaves, grass clippings and small debris from driveways, sidewalks, patios, parking lots, and other areas five times faster than using a rake or broom. While they might not seem dangerous, leaf blowers can turn rocks, sticks, mulch, glass shards and other debris into projectiles that can cause cuts and eye injuries. Leaf blowers can also damage your hearing and cause ergonomic injuries, electric shocks, and respiratory hazards if you don’t operate them correctly and take safety precautions. The most common safety-related mistakes people make when operating leaf blowers are failing to wear the personal protective equipment they need, not paying attention, and using leaf blowers for unintended purposes.

THINGS YOU SHOULD NOT DO WITH A LEAF BLOWER • Spread or mist fertilizers, chemicals, or any toxic substance. • Move dusty materials. • Clean up large amounts of gravel, dust, construction dirt, plaster, cement, or dry topsoil. • Indoors or in a poorly ventilated area. • From a ladder, rooftop, tree, or other unstable surface.

16 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

WHAT PPE YOU SHOULD WEAR • Pants and long sleeves, hearing protection (ear plugs or earmuffs), goggles or a face shield, heavy-duty work gloves, sturdy work boots with non-slip soles, and a respirator or dust mask (if you are working in dusty conditions).

WHAT TO DO PRIOR TO BEGINNING WORK • Inspect the leaf blower and any wires, plugs, and extension cords and bring damage/wear/defective safety devices to a supervisor’s attention. Check the condition of the air filter and clear any debris from the air intakes. • Clear the work area of bystanders, crew members, and pets. People and animals should be at least 50 feet away. • Remove any loose debris (trash, tree limbs, rocks, etc.). continued on page 18 • Wet down dusty areas.

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continued from page 16 WHAT PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE WHILE OPERATING

AVOID ERGONOMIC INJURIES

• Stop blowing if someone steps inside the 50-foot boundary. • Pay attention at all times. Never point the nozzle toward people, pets, vehicles, or open windows or doors.

• Wear the shoulder harness or strap that comes with your hand-held leaf blower. • Keep your back straight while operating the leaf blower.

AVOIDING SHOCK WHEN USING AN ELECTRIC BLOWER

Finally, before using leaf blowers, always read the instruction manual provided by the manufacturer. If you do not have an instruction manual, you can get one by contacting the manufacturer, or your local retailer. Many manufacturers have them available on their websites. You need to know how the leaf blower works and how to use it properly before you start a job.

• Make sure it is plugged into a ground-faulted outlet, or is used with a ground-fault-circuit interrupter. • Don’t use an electric leaf blower in a wet area, or let an extension cord drag through water. • Don’t adjust or service the blower without unplugging it.

AVOID FUEL-RELATED ACCIDENTS • Don’t spill fuel when refilling the machine. If you do spill, wipe the leaf blower dry before using it. • Don’t smoke while handling fuel or operating the machine, at any time. • Refuel before starting the engine. If you must refuel during work, turn off the engine and allow it to cool. • Start the leaf blower at least 10 feet from the area that it was fueled in. • Make sure the spark-plug boot is secure to avoid sparks and possible ignition of fuel vapors.

18 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

This article was provided by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) as part of its Tailgate Safety Training Manual. The NALP believes good safety practices set your company apart from the competition, make your company a place where employees want to work and it helps your bottom line. Find more helpful safety resources from OSHA and from NALP safety experts – in English and Spanish – at https://www.landscapeprofessionals.org/ LP/LP/Safety_NALP

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The Growing Concern | October 2021 | 19

PL ANT OF TH E M ON TH

JIM FUNAI, PhD

Cuyahoga Community College Euonymus americanus.

SHELLEY FUNAI, LIC

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

EUONYMUS AMERICANUS & E. ATROPURPUREUS

STRAWBERRY BUSH & EASTERN WAHOO

This month, Bill shares two awesome, native-Ohio plants, which we both enjoy in our home landscapes. If we’re being honest, Shelley and I never put a lot of thought into the common names of these plants until a certain Cleveland baseball team changed its name, compelling us to dive a little bit deeper. To begin, we often speak of native plants without giving much thought to those who lived here before us and – subsequently – had already named them. The Native tribes of North America had names for the plants they lived among, and when European settlers began to exchange languages with them, a lot of common names either went unchanged, or morphed over time from their Native root. “Wahoo” is one of these names, used by Siouan-speaking tribes, which included the Sioux, Crow, Dakota, Hidatsa, Lakota, Mandan, Omaha, and Yankton tribes. While these tribes had different dialects, the main root, “wa,” translates to

“arrow,” and “hu” translates to “wood.” So, the Natives called Euonymus atropurpureus, “arrowwood,” because of its straight stems which were used for making arrows. Sticking with our history lesson, don’t get too excited to claim that this means the name “Chief Wahoo” was chosen out of respect. While Cleveland’s baseball team (Spiders) was the first in the majors to roster a Native American (Louis Sockalexis of the Penobscot Tribe) in 1897, he wasn’t really welcomed as part of the team. Cleveland fans greeted the “First Indian” with boos, racist slurs, war dances, and by mocking his addiction to alcohol. In 1915, the team’s name (Cleveland Naps) was changed to the continued on page 22

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Euonymus atropurpureous.

Indians, who later adopted “Chief Wahoo” from a shockingly racist comic book, titled “Big Chief Wahoo.” While this may anger some of you, the fact is the history of the name was based in racism, not honor. Calling our plant of the month Wahoo IS born of honor though, as it is the very name given to it by those Native American tribes. So, let’s focus on the plants! Both plants this month are commonly called “Burning Bush,” much like the non-native/noxious weed, E. alatus, that we see EVERYWHERE. Our natives are not suitable substitutes for the evil Burning Bush, which tends to be planted en masse at every commercial landscape this side of the Mississippi. They don’t have the bomb-proof toughness that has made the nonnative so popular. Rather, these are woodland/shade plants that add great charm to the mixed border. Starting off with the shorter of the two, E. americanus is a shrub in the 3 to 6 foot tall and wide range. It will colonize some, with suckers spreading slowly. One great trick up this plant’s sleeves, as Bill points out, is that it holds onto the green of its stems through winter. The only other two plants out there that can pull this off are Japanese Kerria and Hardy Orange (Poncirus). Bright green stems through winter stand out surprisingly well and are certainly a feature during the leafless time of year.

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Strawberry Bush, as its common name, derives from the beautiful fruits set by this shrub. Like all Euonymus, the flowers are unnoticed in early summer, but the fruits are a crimson-red, warty-looking capsules, just under an inch. When ripe, the capsules split open to revel 5 bright-red, shiny fruits that hang on for some time. They eventually fall out, or more than likely, are eaten by birds. Each fruit capsule resembles a strawberry, hence the common name. Another common name is “hearts-a-bursting,” based on the way the red fruits burst out of the capsule. Use this shrub in the middle of a mixed border where some fall color interest from fruits and soft yellow leaves is welcomed. We’ve found that it tolerates full sun but performs best with a little reprieve in the later afternoon. Well drained soils are best, being sure to not plant in heavy clay. This leaves the taller of the two plants, E. atropurpureus, otherwise known as the Eastern Wahoo. Able to reach tree size, this large shrub is between 10 to 15 feet tall –(sometimes up to 25) with a spread around 15 feet. Like its cousin, keep it out of heavy/wet soils and it will forgive nearly everything else. Flowers, like all euonymus, are not noticed but we do get another fun, fall fruit display.

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With Wahoo, the capsules are not warty, yet smooth. They still hold the deep crimson-red color that pops against the green leaves. As the leaves turn shades of yellow and pink, the capsules will split open and reveal similar bright-red, shiny fruits from within. The stems will not hold the bright-green color of E. americanus, but they do like to sucker a little and will always try to form a multi-stem clump. We have seen this pruned into a tree form, but keep in mind, there will be annual sucker pruning to perform. Both native “Burning Bush” are great for supporting local bird populations, and you will often find our state bird, the Northern Cardinal visiting in late fall to early winter to gather the fruits for winter energy. In the right location, as part of a mixed border, let these September/October stars shine and do their part to diversify your gardens!

Jim Funai, PhD is full-time faculty at Cuyahoga Community College, a NALP accredited associate of applied science in hoticulture degree program. He has a PhD in Landscape Engineering and Forestry and is a Licensed Arborist. Shelley Funai is Grounds Manager at Stan Hywett Hall and Gardens in Akron, Ohio, which offers a historic estate designed by Warren H. Manning and a beautiful manor house museum. She is Landscape Industry Certified in Ornamental Plant Care.

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