Practical
Plants

Euonymus atropurpureus

Wahoo

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Euonymus genus in the family Celastraceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
2.5 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The fruits, seed and bark are considered to be poisonous[6].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Although the fruit has sometimes been eaten, it is considered to be poisonous by some writers and so should definitely be avoided[5]. The fruit is about 15mm in diameter[3].

Plant part
Fruit

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Wahoo was used in various ways by the North American Indians, for example as an eye lotion, as a poultice for facial sores and for gynaecological conditions[9]. In current herbalism it is considered to be a gallbladder remedy with laxative and diuretic properties[9]. The bark, however, is toxic and should only be used under professional supervision, it should not be given to pregnant women or nursing mothers[9]. The stem and root bark is alterative, cardiac, cathartic, cholagogue, diuretic, expectorant, hepatic, laxative, stimulant and tonic[11][4][13][14][6]. The root bark is the part normally used, though bark from the stems is sometimes employed as a substitute[11]. In small doses it stimulates the appetite, in larger doses it irritates the intestines[11]. The bark is especially useful in the treatment of biliousness and liver disorders which follow or accompany fevers[11][9] and for treating various skin disorders such as eczema which could arise from poor liver and gallbladder function[9]. It is also used as a tea in the treatment of malaria, liver congestion, constipation etc[6]. The powdered bark, applied to the scalp, was believed to eliminate dandruff[6]. The bark and the root contain digitoxin and have a digitalis-like effect on the heart[5][6]. They have been used in the treatment of heart conditions[9]. The bark, which has a sweetish taste, is gathered in the autumn and can be dried for later use[5]. A tea made from the roots is used in cases of uterine prolapse, vomiting of blood, painful urination and stomach-aches[6]. The seed is emetic and strongly laxative[6].

Product or use
Alterative
Product or use
Cardiac
Product or use
Cathartic
Product or use
Cholagogue
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Hepatic
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Wood - heavy, hard, tough, very close grained[16][7]. It weighs 41lb per cubic foot[7], but is too small to be of commercial value[8].

Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Ontario to Florida, Montana, Oklahoma and Nebraska.
Habitat
Rich woods and thickets[12], the best specimens are found in deep rich humus soils[8]. Limstone soils, stream bottoms and woods in Texas[10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 8 - 12 weeks warm followed by 8 - 16 weeks cold stratification and can then be sown in a cold frame[15][17]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm long taken at a node or with a heel, July/August in a frame. Very easy[3].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Thrives in almost any soil, including chalk, it is particularly suited to dry shaded areas[3]. Prefers a well-drained loamy soil[1]. Requires shade from the midday sun[1][2]. A moderately fast-growing but short-lived tree in the wild[8].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩

  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

  5. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  7. Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206

    ↩1↩2

  8. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  10. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩

  11. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  12. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  13. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  14. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  15. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

  16. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩

  17. Gordon. A. G. and Rowe. D. C. f. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs.

    ↩

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