The Pipsqueak® Burning Bush, otherwise known as the Euonymus Alatus ‘Pipzam’ or Japanese Spindle ‘Microphyllus Aureovariegatus’, Boxleaf Euonymus ‘Microphyllus Aureovariegatus’, Japanese Spindletree ‘Microphyllus Aureovariegatus’, Euonymus japonicus ‘Microphyllus Aureas Pulchellus’, Euonymus japonicus ‘Pulchellus Aureovariegatus’, is a rather well known shrub plant by gardening enthusiasts around the world.
Best known for its low maintenance and moderate growth, this shrub will likely liven up your house (or garden) with its green colored leaves. But, only if you learn how to take proper care of it for it to thrive.
This is why all the topics you need to know in order to achieve this will be covered in this Pipsqueak® Burning Bush Care Guide. Ready? Let’s go!
The basic care guidelines you need to remember for your Pipsqueak® Burning Bush are the following:
- Water: The Pipsqueak® Burning Bush wants regular watering to enhance fruit production but as a landscape plant, too much water will be a problem.
- Light: Keep your Euonymus Alatus ‘Pipzam’ in an environment where it can receive full sun on a daily basis.
- Soil: Make sure to keep the Pipsqueak® Burning Bush in soil with moist but well-draining to well draining properties, so ideally, one that is made of clay, loam, chalk, and sand.
That’s it – sunlight, water and soil! The basic 3 fundamentals for all plant care, and with the Pipsqueak® Burning Bush this is no exception. With these three elements, your leafy friend will live healthy and happy.
Scientific / Botanical Aspects
In botanical terms, the Pipsqueak® Burning Bush belongs to the Celastraceae family, the genus Euonymus and the species Japonicus, hence its scientific (or botanical) name Euonymus Alatus ‘Pipzam’ (yoo-ON-ih-mus a-LAY-tus).
As with other Euonymus’s, the Pipsqueak® Burning Bush is a deciduous plant, which means it will shed its leaves annually once autumn comes.
Growing Region
The Pipsqueak® Burning Bush is a plant native to the Korea and Japan to Nansei-shoto.
Knowing your plant’s native region is very useful, as it can give you tips on which environment is best for your Pipsqueak® Burning Bush. If you keep it in mind, you can try to replicate these conditions at home, and you’ll likely end with a healthier plant.
With this in mind, the Euonymus Alatus ‘Pipzam’ will be most used to the heat zones in the 1 – 9 region, as the plant hardiness level falls between 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a and the ideal climate zone is between 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, H1.
Growth and Size
Growth
In terms of size and growth, the Pipsqueak® Burning Bush is a relatively moderate grower, which makes things somewhat easy for any plant enthusiast.
Size
But, how big does the Pipsqueak® Burning Bush actually get? What should you expect in terms of size? Let’s dive right in…
The Euonymus Alatus ‘Pipzam’ can grow up to 2′ – 3′ (60cm – 90cm) in 2′ – 3′ (60cm – 90cm) and 1′ – 2′ (30cm – 60cm) in 1′ – 2′ (30cm – 60cm).
These dimensions make the Pipsqueak® Burning Bush a relatively medium shrub compared to others, so it’s best to keep this fact in mind since it will affect where you want to keep yours at home.
Also, expect it to grow in a wonderful compact shape, which is something worthwhile to remember when making your garden landscape plans.
This is why experts recommend keeping an area of approximately 24″ (60cm) free so the Pipsqueak® Burning Bush can spread to its best extent.
Water
In terms of watering, the Pipsqueak® Burning Bush is a fairly complicated plant to take care of.
This is mostly because it has a not so straightforward watering schedule and somewhat regular watering needs.
Specifically, most experts agree that the Euonymus Alatus ‘Pipzam’ wants regular watering to enhance fruit production but as a landscape plant, too much water will be a problem.
Which is why it is considered a plant with relatively average needs in terms of water.
Watering
As a rule of thumb, you should remember to keep your Pipsqueak® Burning Bush in soil with moist but well-draining to well draining characteristics, as these will guarantee the right conditions for your plant to grow and thrive.
However, in our experience, the best solution to knowing the right amount of water for your Pipsqueak® Burning Bush is with the ‘thumb’ technique. Basically, you insert your finger into the soil, and based if you feel the soil moist or dry, you determine if it needs any water, which is the most appropriate way to go about watering your leafy friend.
Soil Mix
The Pipsqueak® Burning Bush’s ideal soil potting mix is made out of clay, loam, chalk, and sand.
In addition to this, expert gardeners recommend having preferably alkaline, acid or neutral soil.
Light and Exposure
In terms of light & exposure, the Pipsqueak® Burning Bush requires full sun in order for it to thrive under the right conditions.
Most experts agree that this shrub will do well as long as you keep it in partial to full sun, and it will be able to grow properly.
Specifically, we recommend that you place your Euonymus Alatus ‘Pipzam’ in from little to partial shade (only 2-6 hours of direct sunlight a day), to dappled or moderate shade (under other plant’s canopy), to full and direct sun (more than 6 hours of direct sunlight per day).
Season
Being a deciduous plant, the Pipsqueak® Burning Bush will shed its leaves annually once autumn comes.
But, you can expect it to have its ‘prime-time’ during the spring (early, mid, late), the summer (early, mid, late), the fall, and during the winter.
Flowers
You can expect your Pipsqueak® Burning Bush to flower around the spring and in the summer months from April to June (spring), and from July to September (summer).
The Pipsqueak® Burning Bush produces some beautiful green, or red/burgundy, green and white flowers around this time of year.
Foliage
The leaves from the Pipsqueak® Burning Bush have a beautiful green color during most of the year.
In particular, they have a simple arrangement with a opposite organization in its leaves.
You can expect the leaves from your Euonymus Alatus ‘Pipzam’ to be around (1-3 inches) in size.
Garden
Does your Pipsqueak® Burning Bush have any garden recommendations? Does it serve any gardening purposes? Here’s how you can get the most out of your new plant.
Most Euonymus Alatus ‘Pipzam’ owners agree that this shrub will look great in most asian/zen and contemporary gardens of all types.
Other owners consider that they complement well most gardens of coastal garden, city and courtyard, and in informal and cottage styles.
In particular, the Pipsqueak® Burning Bush’s best location within your garden is in beds and borders, hedges and screens, banks and slopes, ground covers, and in patio and containers, others use it for landscaping in a specimen, privacy screen, firescaping/fire wise, border, hedge, mass planting, or a wildlife garden.
Conclusion
And we’ve come to an end. Fortunately, that’s everything you need to know about your Pipsqueak® Burning Bush to keep it safe and sound in your garden or home. Enjoy planting!
