I came across this odd shrub while hiking along the Cache River in southern Illinois in October. This is a native deciduous woody plant that grows 6 to 12 feet tall. It can often be found growing along streams, with its roots anchored in damp, rich soil.
Throughout most of the year the Strawberry Bush lives in obscurity. Even when it is in full bloom, its small yellowish-green blooms are so inconspicuous that they remain hidden in full sight.
During Spring and Summer, the Strawberry Bush is cloaked in lance-shaped leaves. Its seeds are borne in one-inch, warty capsules that typically contain four to five berries. As Summer progresses, the green capsules grow and eventually turn pinkish red.
Sometime during September and October, the capsules split, revealing scarlet-red berries hanging on thread-like filaments. The appearance of the open capsules and red berries apparently gave rise to one of the plant’s alternate names, “Hearts-a-bursting.”
Strawberry Bush’s red, pulpy seeds are devoured by songbirds such as the Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush and Northern Mockingbird. Wild Turkeys and small mammals also dine on the red berries.
Early colonists considered the plant so beautiful that it became one of the first North American plants sent back to Europe for use in ornamental gardens in as early as 1663.
The Strawberry Bush is also known as Wahoo, Burning Bush, Bursting Heart and Hearts-bustin’-with-love.