Celastrus orbiculatus

Plant Family

Celastraceae

Plant Botanical Name

Celastrus orbiculatus

Photo by: GERALD L. KLINGAMAN

Plant Common Name

Oriental Bittersweet

General Description

The showy orange and pink fruits of Oriental bittersweet are alluringly pretty in fall and a harvest time favorite, but don't be fooled by its beauty. This rampant woody vine from eastern Asia is considered a noxious weed in many parts of the world. In its natural habitat it twines up woodland trees in open forests and margins. Specimens were first brought to North America in the mid to late Nineteenth Century and escaped from cultivation. Now it is found in woodlands across much of eastern North America where it competes with the equally showy but smaller American bittersweet vine, Celastrus scandens.

Oriental bittersweet displays oval, medium green leaves in spring which turn yellow in autumn. Its inconspicuous green flowers bloom in summer and branches of ornamental fruits open in fall all along the stems. The yellow-orange capsules burst open to show pinkish red seeds. The fruits are obscured by the foliage until it falls. Celastrus is dioecious, meaning that each plant has either male or female flowers, never both. Male and female plants are needed for fruit production but only female vines produce fruit. Bittersweet fruits are an early winter food source for song and gamebirds, which effectively distribute their seeds near trees or along fencerows.

Part of this vine’s success is due to its ability to grow just about anywhere. Full sun, shade, moist areas or moderately dry areas can all accommodate Oriental bittersweet. It is a rampant, vigorous grower that demands strong support of tall metal fences or sturdy arbors. It can reach great heights and twine all the way to the top of tall tree canopies. Those who want to try to grow it must keep it rigorously pruned and maintained. If regularly hard-pruned it can be trained to adopt a shrub-like habit.

This species is not recommended for garden use in North America . The native Celastrus scandens is equally as pretty, tamer, and preferable on all fronts. Oriental bittersweet will hybridize with the American species in the wild. These wild hybrids are also rampantly vigorous.

Characteristics

• AHS Heat Zone

  8 - 1

• USDA Hardiness Zone

  4 - 8

• Sunset Zone

  2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10

• Plant Type

  Vine/Liana

• Sun Exposure

  Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade

• Height

  40'-55' / 12.2m - 16.8m

• Bloom Time

  Early Summer

• Native To

  Eastern Asia, China, Japan, Korea

Growing Conditions

• Soil pH

  Acidic, Neutral

• Soil Drainage

  Average

• Soil type

  Clay, Loam, Sand

• Tolerances

  Pollution, Drought, Soil Compaction

• Growth Rate

  Very Fast

• Water Requirements

  Drought Tolerant, Average Water

• Habit

  Vining/Climbing

• Seasonal Interest

  Fall

Ornamental Features

• Flower Interest

  Insignificant

• Flower Color

  Green, Light Green

• Fruit Color

  Orange, Gold, Magenta

• Fruit Color Modifier

  Bicolor

• Foliage Color (Spring)

  Green

• Foliage Color (Summer)

  Green

• Foliage Color (Fall)

  Yellow, Yellow Green

• Bark Color

  Tan

• Fragrant Flowers

  No

• Fragrant Fruit

  No

• Fragrant Foliage

  No

• Bark or Stem Fragrant

  No

• Flower Petal Number

  Single

• Repeat Bloomer

  No

• Showy Fruit

  Yes

• Edible Fruit

  No

• Showy Foliage

  No

• Foliage Texture

  Medium

• Foliage Sheen

  Glossy

• Evergreen

  No

Special Characteristics

• Bark Texture

  Smooth

• Usage

  Vine

• Sharp or Has Thorns

  No

• Invasive

  Yes

• Attracts

  Birds

• Self-Sowing

  Yes