Oriental Bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sel-ASS-trus or-bik-yoo-LAY-tus
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
-
Plants are either male or female
Native to Eastern Asia; listed as an invasive species by the NC State Weed Specialist, North Carolina Forest Service, USDA National Invasive Species Information Center; the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States, The National Park Service
Found primarily along forest edges, roadsides, and meadows in full sun. Spreads by prolific vine growth and seeds that are spread by birds, mammals, and people. It was introduced from Southeast Asia around 1860 as an ornamental vine.
Bittersweet can be difficult to control. Cutting or pulling alone does not work because cutting stimulates the vine to re-sprout ten-fold and any broken-off piece of root will re-grow. In the home landscape, it is probably best to cut the vines back to the ground and immediately treat the cut stem with herbicide. Follow the directions on the label.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Diana'
- 'Diana'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Diana'
- 'Diana'
- Tags:
-
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Celastrus
- Species:
- orbiculatus
- Family:
- Celastraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Russian Far East, China, Korea, Central & S. Japan
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Vine
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Clusters of small capsules with 3 scarlet, fleshy, sections each with 2 white seeds, mature between August and January.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Diecious - male and female flowers on separate plants.
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-
Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Deciduous, alternate, olive green in spring and summer; Light yellow fall foliage; round or tapered tips.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Weedy
