Why Are Burning Bushes Illegal? Everything You Need to Know

If you are planning to fill your garden with vibrant bushes and are considering burning bushes as an option, hold the idea. Before you go ahead with burning bush shrubs, it's important to gather information about it and know "why are burning bushes illegal" in some places. You should also know if it's good to opt for burning bushes. Though it is one of the amazing ornamental plants, it is a prohibited species due to its invasive nature. It is not completely banned in all the states, yet homeowners don't prefer these shrubs for their yards or gardens. The reasons are discussed later in this article. We have discussed the features of the burning bush, substitutes for them, and information related to burning bushes in this article, which can help you understand the shrub better.

Features of Burning Bushes

Here are the features of the burning bushes which will help you know all about the shrub:

• It is a shrub that grows up to 20 feet tall.

• It's a native to Eastern Asia.

• Leaves are green along the stem which turn into red-purple in the fall. It gives small, round, and red-purple fruits during the summer.

• It has winged stems.

• It is easy to grow these plants.

• It needs minimal maintenance.

• It can grow in any soil type and under any weather and light solutions.

• It keeps deer away from the yard due to woody and abrasive stems.

Are Burning Bushes Illegal?

In many states, there is a ban on the import of burning bushes due to their invasive feature. Some states in the US have also banned the propagation of the plant. Whereas other states motivate homeowners to remove the shrub or control the spread in the case of the existing plant. The reason is it competes with other native vegetation for food and nutrients.

There are different opinions amongst the homeowners on the invasive character of the plant. Some opine that it is not invasive merely because they did not notice any problem in their yard. Whereas, others say that there's a problem in their garden. This shrub produces berries and birds visit the yard to enjoy berries. At times, birds drop berries elsewhere which germinate into a burning bush.

Depending on the place where berries were disposed of, bushes start spreading and outcompete other plants in the surrounding area. Fast-spreading burning bushes do not even allow future oak and pine saplings to survive. Another reason is that many scientists have proved that these berries are not a good source of fat and energy for birds.

Which is the Best Way to Use Burning Bushes?

Burning bushes are invasive does not mean that you can't grow them in all the states of the USA. In some parts of the US, it's not banned. It is known to disturb the local ecosystem and cause loss of biodiversity. However, you can use it as a fence, hedge, boundary, or enclosure by planting the shrubs together in areas that have fewer or no plants. This is the best way to grow burning bushes, which also enhances visual appeal.

Substitute Burning Bushes for Other Plants

Burning bushes are undoubtedly one of the popular ornamental plants owing to their amazing appearance and stunning flowers, leaves, and seeds. However, due to its fast-spreading feature and dominance over other nearby plants, it is advised to find a substitute for brushing bushes. Here is the list of the plants that can prove to be a substitute for brushing bushes:

• Ninebark

• Highbush (hedge plants that grow up to 12 feet in height and width)

• Blueberry

• Red chokeberry

• Redvein dianthus( it grows up to 6 feet in width and 8 feet in height)

• Virginia sweet spire

• Dwarf and standard fothergilla

• Fragrant sumac

• Virginia sweetspire

• Winterberry

How to Control Burning Bush?

There are different ways to control the growth of burning bush. The first option is to pull out seedlings and sprouts manually, but it's not an easy task. The other option is to remove the entire bushes by digging the roots and disposing of the plant. The second option is about getting rid of the problem from its roots.

Conclusion

Burning bushes are known to be an invasive plant, but due to their vibrant leaves, many homeowners prefer to grow them. However, the concern is that it is banned in some parts of the US. If you want to grow these shrubs, it's advisable to use them as a fence or hedge where no other plants are grown. The other option is to find a substitute plant for burning bush.