Quick answer: Eastern wahoo (Euonymus atropurpureus) is native to 23 states. What's commonly sold under this name is the true wild species. No live listing of the true species was found as of 04 Nov 2026.
Photo: Dwight Sipler from Stow, MA, USA, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-2.0)
Where it's native
Listed in the directory as native to these states. Click a state for its full native-plant guide.
Growing conditions
From the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database.
| Sun | Part Shade |
|---|---|
| Water | Not recorded in the wildflower.org profile |
| Soil | Fertile, moist soils |
| Bloom | circumneutral pH (6.8-7.2) |
| Height | Mar-Aug |
| Wildlife value | Up to 25 ft; Rabbit and deer browse; birds eat the fruits only as emergency ration |
Members of this species may have toxic alkaloids in their leaves, stems or roots. Although poisoning is not commonly recorded, this plant should not be ingested.
Buying it
No live listing of the true wild species was found as of 04 Nov 2026 — that means our last search didn't surface one, not that the plant is unavailable.
No live seed or plant listing found as of 04 Nov 2026. That means our last search didn't surface one — not that the plant is unavailable. Try a regional native-plant nursery.
Quick answers about Eastern wahoo
Where is Eastern wahoo native?
Eastern wahoo (Euonymus atropurpureus) is native to 23 states across the Northeast, Midwest and South. Check your state's page in this directory for the full list of plants native where you live.
When does Eastern wahoo bloom?
Eastern wahoo blooms circumneutral pH (6.8-7.2). Exact timing shifts a few weeks with latitude and elevation.
What growing conditions does Eastern wahoo need?
Light: Part Shade. Soil: Fertile, moist soils. Mature height: Mar-Aug.
Is Eastern wahoo good for pollinators and wildlife?
Yes. Wildlife value: Up to 25 ft; Rabbit and deer browse; birds eat the fruits only as emergency ration.
Is Eastern wahoo toxic?
Members of this species may have toxic alkaloids in their leaves, stems or roots. Although poisoning is not commonly recorded, this plant should not be ingested.
Where can I buy Eastern wahoo?
We haven't found an online listing of the true wild species as of 04 Nov 2026. A regional native-plant nursery or native seed company is your best source; ask for Euonymus atropurpureus by its scientific name.
Similar native plants
Native plants that share growing conditions or range with Eastern wahoo.
- Hollow Joe-pye weed Eutrochium fistulosum
- White snakeroot Ageratina altissima
- Adam's needle Yucca filamentosa
- Brown-eyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba
- Swamp sunflower Helianthus angustifolius
- Crimson-eyed rose-mallow Hibiscus moscheutos
Also listed under
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