Known by common names including strawberry bush, wahoo bush, and hearts-a-bustin’, this normally inconspicuous shrub moves to the spotlight in early fall. The fruits, which start in summer as green, warty capsules, turn brilliant scarlet red and split, revealing red seeds hanging underneath. Common in mixed woods throughout much of North Carolina, it makes an excellent addition to your landscape. Browsing deer relish the leaves and twigs and some birds eat the seeds.

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