This shrub is widespread in southeastern states, but usually restricted to medium acid soils and rare or absent in some calcareous regions. NS (2020) indicates concentration in southern sections of the Interior Low Plateaus, Cumberland Plateau, Ride & Valley and Piedmont, especially in woods dominated by Quercus alba (CEGL 7201) or Fagus (CEGL 6227). In Ky. as well, it is most common in submesic to subxeric woods with abundant Quercus alba and Fagus; local dominance in the shrub layer has been observed in the "Cumberland-Green Hills" of BARR (Bougher 1973; also with frequent Smilax and Corylus) and RUSS (pers. obs. in Lake Cumberland State Park). Like other species of Euonymus, americanus is known to be much browsed by deer and other herbivores, based on many studies across its range, from Atwood (1941) to Thrift (2007). But americanus has evolved an unusual ability to escape and spread vegetatively with extensive stoloniferous branches. In forest gaps and thickets, with some protection from deer, these branches can rapidly grow up to form shrubs 2 m tall or more. The closely related obovatus on base-rich soils remains more hidden on the ground. Most Euonymus species in Ky. have twigs that remain green into the second or third year; this is an unusual character among deciduous woody plants of eastern states, a character that may be loosely associated with high palatability.