Any of about 170 species of shrubs, woody climbers, and small trees that make up the genus Euonymus (family Celastraceae), native to temperate Asia, North America, and Europe, including many popular landscape ornamental shrubs and ground covers.
The winged spindle tree ( E. alata ), also called burning bush, is a handsome shrub with corky winged stems. Wood of the common spindle tree ( E. europaea ) is used for pegs and spindles; several varieties are grown as ornamentals.