Eastern Wahoo, burning bush, Euonymous atropurpureus
 
A colour combination out of the Vogue magazine! Three, four fire-engine-red berries peak out of bright pink pods. And this large fast-growing shrub is loaded with those red-pink berry-pods from fall long into the winter. Lots of dark maroon-purple flowers, typical for a plant in the nightshade family, bloom for a month in spring. The light green leaves turn brilliant fall colours in all hues of red, just like the invasive ornamental burning bush (Euonymus alatus).
 
Ecology:
The flowers attract small bees, like green sweat bees. Eastern wahoo is a host plant to several moth species. The fruit is not so well-liked by birds that it gets devoured right away; so it is still available as an emergency food long into the winter.
 
Growing conditions:
Eastern wahoo is found in moist, open woods, thickets and stream banks. It is a versatile shrub that can grow in morning and afternoon sun to almost full shade in average to moist soils, but it requires well-drained soil and is intolerant of prolonged wet soils. It does best in humus-rich soil in dappled to light shade but can even grow in dry shade.
 
Good to know:
When ingested in large amounts, all plant parts are toxic to cats, dogs and humans.