Oriental bittersweet - Celastrus orbiculatus

Oriental bittersweet is a deciduous, climbing, woody vine that can grow to lengths of 60 ft (BROKEN-LINK Miller 2003). The alternate, elliptical leaves are light green in color. Small, inconspicuous, axillary flowers give way to round green fruit. The fruits ripen and split to reveal showy scarlet berries in winter. The bark is dark gray to brown and smooth when young but flaking and becoming striated on older stems. It closely resembles American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) but can be distinguished because American bittersweet has flowers and fruits in terminalsrather than axillary alongthe stem (BROKEN-LINK Miller 2003).

Oriental bittersweet was introduced from China around 1860 as an ornamental (Swearingen et al. 2002). It is commonly found through the southern Appalachians in old house sites, fields, and road edges. Some shade tolerance allows it to also grow in open forests.

Oriental bittersweets prolific vine growth allows it to grow around trees and girdle them. It also can completely cover other vegetation and shade, out-compete and kill even large trees. It can be dispersed widely and quickly due to the berreis being eaten and spread by birds.

Oriental bittersweet has also been shown to hybridize with American bittersweet, potentially leading to a loss of genetic identity. For more information and control recommendations please click here.