Wild Strawberry Bush in Greenfields

The Fruit and Seeds of the Strawberry Bush

Approximately three weeks ago (early October) I was riding the golf cart on the nature trail across Johnson Mill Creek in Greenfields and noticed an unusual plant growing in the woods. By using the internet, I learned that the plant is a Strawberry Bush (Euonymus americanus). It is also know as Bursting Heart or Hearts a Bursting. This plant is a shrub that is found in most of North America in a habitat of rich woods. It has small clusters of greenish flowers that appear in late spring and continue into early summer. These flowers are occassionally single and sometimes may be purple in color. I took the adjacent picture of the plant's fruit which is a bright red four sectioned capsule that has spicule-like projections on the outer covering. The capsules have split open and have attached shinny red berry-like seeds. Today I went back to the plant, harvested twelve to fifteen seeds, and planted them along the trail on both sides of Johnson Mill Creek. Hopefully one day there will be numerous strawberry bushes on this trail for the residents of Greenfields to enjoy.