Gerald L. Klingaman
Family
Celastraceae
Botanical Name
CELASTRUS scandens
Plant Common Name
American Bittersweet
General Description
The ornamental late-season fruits of American bittersweet reign in autumn. This deciduous woody, twining and rambling vine originates from eastern North America. It is a vigorous grower that becomes quite large, so it’s not commonly planted in gardens.
American bittersweet vines become covered with medium green leaves in spring, which turn unimpressive shades of yellow-green in fall. Its inconspicuous creamy flowers appear in summer and clusters of ornamental fruits appear in fall. These are orange-yellow capsules that burst open to show deep orange-red seeds that are found toward the ends of vines (not all along the stem among the leaves). Celastrus is dioecious, meaning that some plants have only male flowers and some only female flowers. Male and female plants are needed for fruit production and only female vines produce fruit. Bittersweet fruits are an early winter foodsource for song and gamebirds.
Grow this vine in full to partial sun. It is tolerant of most well-draining soils. American bittersweet is a vigorous grower that needs the strong support of tall metal fences or sturdy arbors. In the wild it twines into tree canopies. If rigorously pruned and maintained, it can adopt a shrub-like habit. This species should not be confused with the more aggressive and invasive Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbicularis), which looks similar but produces its fruits all along the vine in clusters at the bases of and hidden by the leaves.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
8 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
3 - 8
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Sunset Zone
A3, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10
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Plant Type
Vine/Liana
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
20'-30' / 6.1m - 9.1m (25)
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Bloom Time
Summer
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Native To
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, Canada
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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Growth Rate
Very Fast
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Vining/Climbing
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Seasonal Interest
Fall
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Insignificant
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Flower Color
Ivory
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Fruit Color
Yellow, Orange, Orange Red
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Fruit Color Modifier
Bicolor
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green, Light Yellow, Yellow Green
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Bark Color
Sandy Brown
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Glossy
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Bark Texture
Fissured
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Usage
Feature Plant, Vine
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
Sometimes
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Attracts
Birds
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Self-Sowing
Yes
