Eastern Wahoo

About Eastern Wahoo

Eastern Wahoo is a spectacular native shrub or small tree that offers multi-season interest and exceptional wildlife value. Reaching heights of 10 to 20 feet, it is best known for its unusual, dark purple flowers that appear in late spring, followed by stunning, four-lobed pinkish-red fruit capsules. In the fall, these capsules split open to reveal bright orange seeds, creating a brilliant display that persists long after the leaves have fallen. The foliage turns a breathtaking shade of fiery red in autumn, rivaling the non-native 'Burning Bush' but with far greater ecological benefits. Native to floodplains and moist woodland edges across the eastern and central United States, Eastern Wahoo thrives in partial sun to shade and prefers moist, well-drained soils. Its seeds are a favorite food source for many bird species, including cardinals and bluebirds, while the plant itself hosts various native insects. It is a perfect choice for a naturalized hedge, a woodland border, or as a unique specimen plant in a shaded landscape.