Seeds are a deep red-purple color embedded in red-colored arils i. Bittersweet uses other plants as scaffolding and is a prolific seed producer. Seed is dispersed by birds and other berry-feeding animals, sometimes over great distances; wind and water are less effective at dispersing seed.
The vector trait provides an advantage for rapidly colonizing new and especially far away sites. Asiatic bittersweet vine is dioecious [i. Male vines have flowers that produce pollen.
Pollen fertilizes a female vine flower that produces fruit and seed. Both male and female plants need to be in close proximity in order to successfully reproduce. Pollination occurs by bees, other insects, and wind. In addition, many ecologists are concerned that Asiatic bittersweet vine hybridizes with the American bittersweet vine C.
When an opposite sex vine comes in close proximity, the lone vine or new arrival could then produce berries and eventually start a viable, reproducing invasive population i.
Vegetative reproduction occurs when stems are cut or broken. For both male and female vines, sprouting produces more reproductive stems than the original uncut or unbroken stem. There are virtually no appreciable predators or diseases feeding on this plant to curtail its growth, development, and spread. Leaves emerge in the spring with other native plants; however, this species holds onto its leaves a little longer in the fall than most native plants.
Asiatic bittersweet is shade tolerant. However, like glossy buckthorn and common buckthorn, it frequently invades sunny areas which is why it is seen growing in open fields; along field, road and, path edges; and in any other areas that are sunny. Ellsworth stated that Asiatic bittersweet has the genetic variability to tolerate a wide range of sun and shade exposures; high seedling survivorship was observed under deep shade; however, he also noticed that partially shaded conditions contributed to high seedling survivorship.
Ellsworth as cited in Fryer reported that the thickness of the woodland litter layer affected seedling emergence; seedlings of Asiatic bittersweet were more successful emerging from pine litter layer than thick oak litter. Pine litter has a structure more conducive to air and light penetration than the heavy matting effect that results from overlapping oak leaves. Asiatic bittersweet flowers from May to June; flowers are a greenish-yellow color Zheng, et al, Flowering time is the same as for common buckthorn.
However, the fruiting period is quite long, beginning in July and lasting through October Zheng, et al, Like other exotic invasive plants this species has fruiting periods that are longer than most native plants in the landscape which increases its invasion success. Cultural Controls: Monitor or visually inspect your property for Asiatic bittersweet. Do this at least every June and September. Do not plant, transplant, or encourage the planting of this species.
Do not use this vine in the fruiting stage in holiday decorations particularly Christmas wreaths. Educating others e. Mechanical Controls: Pull, dig, and cut. Pull out easy-to-pull plants. Spring or early summer cutting will slow its growth and reduce its ability to form functional male or female flowers for reproduction.
Remember, this species is a dioecious plant with male flowers on one plant and female flowers on another plant. Oriental bittersweet is a deciduous , woody vine that can easily reach up to feet.
The glossy alternate leaves are round, finely toothed, and round or oval in shape with pointed tips. In May or June, small, greenish yellow, five-petaled flowers appear in the leaf axils.
The green berries ripen to a bright yellowish-orange in the fall, and the leaves turn yellow. The berries usually remain on the vine throughout the winter , often serving as an emergency food for birds which then spread the seeds further. The woody vines coil arounds trees, shrubs, and any other support, including manmade structures. The roots of oriental bittersweet are deep and have a characteristic bright orange color.
Oriental bittersweet chokes out and kills any other vegetation in several different ways. The strong vines girdle so tightly around the stems of trees that they are being strangled. As the vines grow, their sheer weight breaks or uproots the tree.
Oriental bittersweet produces an abundance of berries. Birds eat the berries and spread the invasive plant further through their droppings. The seeds remain in the bird's stomach for several weeks, which leads to the spreading of oriental bittersweet far away from its original location. Oriental bittersweet also spreads by underground roots.
If oriental bittersweet is not controlled, it will result in a monoculture, smothering everything else around it. Small vines can be pulled by hand. Make sure to remove the entire root because bittersweet can regrow from root segments.
Dispose of the vines in the garbage, or leave them on a manmade surface such as driveway, tarp or deck in full sun for a day or two to kill the roots.
If the vine is larger, and already entangled with the tree, cut the stem at the base and immediately brush the cut with glyphosate concentrate.
Note that to be effective, this must be done during the growing season. Then carefully pull the vines out of the tree. If the vines are wrapped around the tree trunk or branches, removal is often not possible without causing damage to the tree. In that case, cut the vines out of the tree in pieces. If you wait until the flowers and berries are in bloom, the flowers and fruits may drop off while you arrange the wreath. Now, get out there and treasure the native plant! It spreads rapidly, strangling ornamental trees and flowering shrubs.
It is labor intensive to destroy. There is no debate. This plant should be illegal to sell in the US. This article needs serious reconsideration.
We have some growing on our land and it is difficult to keep under control. It is illegal to sell oriental bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus in MN. This vine is killing my wonderful trees and other plants. We cut it down every year — it comes back stronger! NEVER transport or try to grow these. There is so many other beautiful foliage that can be used in arrangements. Can these be burned in a brush pile to get rid of them?
I find it hard to believe you are encouraging people to decorate with Oriental Bittersweet. Using the vines in decor just spreads the already incredibly invasive plant to more areas!
We have had several trees in the woods behind our property killed by this vine. We constantly pull it up and bag it in black plastic to kill it. We have bittersweet all over our pond and yard. Our landscaper cuts it back every over year. But it is spreading and chocking out all other vegetation. How do we get rid of it? Thank you for this site to learn more about this invasive plant.
Local florists would be thrilled to buy your Bittersweet! You and your local florists seem to care only about money…and not the damage being done. We found some poison ivy, but not enough to cause this reaction ;. Peg, can you please describe what your rash looks like and what from the bittersweet causes the rash? I just found a vine i had never seen growing in my yard and was told it was bittersweet… it grew 6 feet in just a couple weeks if not faster.
It is illegal to grow or harvest this extremely invasive and destructive plant. Irradicate only — which takes years to do once the plants are established. It was a repetitive part of autumn life, just as the moon and stars are part of the night sky. Then I moved to California and never saw real bittersweet again. And I asked, and hunted, and began my year quest for bittersweet. Nobody in CA even knew what I was talking about!
I moved across state lines and asked everywhere I went. I was obsessed! Oh, how we struggled before Google! We were friends for the rest of her life. Years later, I moved back to Michigan and vowed to send her some bittersweet. I assumed a lack of bittersweet was a regional issue.
Thanks for the article. I too live in Michigan and am very excited that I just found bittersweet growing way back in the wild brush of the family home that i moved back into! I always understood that it was an endangered and protected plant. Nice to find others who love the plant! Another Michigan illegal beauty is lythrum. I had picked some and grew it in my yard. Sadly, that too has disappeared.
Lalaine, please keep a close eye on that bittersweet plant. Please, please, please use it only indoors if you must use the berries. Do NOT let any birds get those berries and only dispose of them in the trash—not in your compost. This is a silent tree-killing plant. Please use with extreme caution.
Oriental Bittersweet has taken over in many parts of the country and it is very dangerous to all other plants and trees. A little research will help folks ID with ease. Wonderful alternatives are American Beautyberry [Callicarpa americana L. Grape and other vines can be easily shaped, decorated with native berrys, seeds, acorns or cones. Saving our natural world must be a full-time priority without exception.
Unfortunately Oriental bittersweet has also been shown to hybridize with the American bittersweet, leading to a loss of genetic identity.
Fortunately after years the seed viability reduces — and if you are successful in harvesting ALL fruiting branches without allowing any to fall on the ground, you will be helping to reduce this devastating invasive vine. Thank you for reading and caring! Odd person out here. On our property, we love bittersweet. It represents good forage for our goats, and the bluebirds love it. We have a large bluebird population.
Please, please, please stop letting your bluebirds eat those bittersweet berries! This is only helping to spread this invasive and destructive plant. If you care at all about your trees, you will eventually regret letting the birds eat the seeds, because the vines will strangle and shade out your trees.
Please stop. I live in CT, and when I first moved onto our 3. I have been here for 35 years now, and in that time I have nearly eliminated the bittersweet from my property. It is very hard to keep it free from bittersweet, though.
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