I noticed this low, loose shrub growing in a mostly shaded area, alongside gravel, Horse Pasture Road west of Rocky Bottom, SC, leading into Jocassee Gorges. It appears to be deciduous, and was flowering today, May 3rd. I’m sorry but this is the first time I have used this site, so I had not read the instructions regarding scale, etc., but I would estimate that the flowers are approximately 1/2″ diameter. The flowers appear to sit on the leaves, but actually are cantilevered over each leaf on a very thin stem.
Hi Ellen,
this is Euonymus americanus, often called ‘Hearts-a-bustin-with-love’ because of the interesting fruits that it gets in the Autumn. As you have seen, the flowers are also very interesting. It is fairly common in the Upstate. The green twigs are also very distinctive.
Sincerely,
Dr. Steven Hill, Botanist, SCNPS