oriental bittersweet |
Plants: Vines |
|
Magnoliopsida > Celastrales > Celastraceae > Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb.
|
| Synonym(s): Asiatic bittersweet |
| Oriental bittersweet is a deciduous, climbing, woody vine that can grow to lengths of 60 ft. (18.3 m). The alternate, elliptical leaves are light green in color and 2-5 in. (5-13 cm) long. Small, inconspicuous, axillary flowers develop in the spring. Fruits are round and green when young and ripen to yellow and split to reveal showy, scarlet berries that persist into winter. It closely resembles American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens), but can be distinguished because American bittersweet has flowers and fruits at the ends of branches, rather than in the axils of the leaves. Oriental bittersweet is commonly found through the southern Appalachians in old home sites, fields, and road edges. Some shade tolerance allows it to also grow in open forests. Prolific vine growth allows it to encircle trees and girdle them. Vines can completely cover other vegetation and shade, out-compete and kill even large trees. It can be dispersed widely and quickly due to birds eating the berries and spreading the seeds. Oriental bittersweet was introduced from China around 1860 as an ornamental. It has also been shown to hybridize with American bittersweet, potentially leading to a loss of genetic identity. |
| Image |
Descriptor |
Description |
Photographer |
| 5369540 |
Control |
Restored pasture in foreground was spot treated with herbicide and hand mowed. Cut and stump treated Oriental bittersweet vines are on trees in the background. |
Arthur E. Miller |
| 5369541 |
Control |
Vines were cut and stumps brushed. The red maple is dying of disease not herbicide. |
Arthur E. Miller |
| 5369546 |
Control |
2007; Stairs built on steep slope for access to garden and trail with invasive plants |
Arthur E. Miller |
| 5382197 |
Feature(s) |
surface features of mature vine |
Connie Gray |
| 5306046 |
Feature(s) |
oriental bittersweet twining around kudzu |
Nancy Loewenstein |
| 2307122 |
Feature(s) |
vine closeup in August |
James H. Miller |
| 5270100 |
Feature(s) |
Vine growning up trunk |
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 0016100 |
Feature(s) |
vine closeup in October |
James H. Miller |
| 0016101 |
Feature(s) |
old vine closeup in December. |
James H. Miller |
| 2132067 |
Flower(s) |
|
Nancy Loewenstein |
| 5271001 |
Flower(s) |
Close-up of staminate flowers |
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 5271002 |
Flower(s) |
Close-up of pistillate flowers |
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 5269037 |
Flower(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 5269038 |
Flower(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 5269040 |
Foliage |
|
Chris Evans |
| 5269041 |
Foliage |
|
Chris Evans |
| 5269042 |
Foliage |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2307127 |
Foliage |
October |
James H. Miller |
| 5330029 |
Foliage |
|
Chris Evans |
| 5392017 |
Foliage |
The plant |
John M. Randall |
| 5392018 |
Foliage |
Leaves |
John M. Randall |
| 9005080 |
Foliage |
leaves in May |
James H. Miller |
| 2106018 |
Foliage |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2307118 |
Foliage |
May |
James H. Miller |
| 2307119 |
Foliage |
October |
James H. Miller |
| 2307120 |
Foliage |
May |
James H. Miller |
| 2307121 |
Foliage |
October |
James H. Miller |
| 2106011 |
Foliage |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2106015 |
Foliage |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2106016 |
Foliage |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2118068 |
Foliage |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2118069 |
Foliage |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2118070 |
Foliage |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2118071 |
Foliage |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2105074 |
Foliage |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2106002 |
Foliage |
|
James R. Allison |
| 0016241 |
Foliage |
on twining vine in October |
James H. Miller |
| 1338012 |
Foliage |
Indian Springs State Park, GA |
Chris Evans |
| 1509005 |
Foliage |
Oriental bittersweet; vegetative growth; Asheville area |
Max Williamson |
| 2105068 |
Foliage |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2105069 |
Foliage |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2105076 |
Foliage |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2105077 |
Fruit(s) |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2105079 |
Fruit(s) |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2105080 |
Fruit(s) |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2105081 |
Fruit(s) |
|
James R. Allison |
| 0016103 |
Fruit(s) |
mature fruit in October |
James H. Miller |
| 0016390 |
Fruit(s) |
mature fruit in July |
James H. Miller |
| 2106003 |
Fruit(s) |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2105095 |
Fruit(s) |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2105096 |
Fruit(s) |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2105097 |
Fruit(s) |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2105098 |
Fruit(s) |
|
James R. Allison |
| 5392021 |
Fruit(s) |
Red fruit |
John M. Randall |
| 2308050 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 5271004 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 5271005 |
Fruit(s) |
Fruit in tree |
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 5125079 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 5125080 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 5125081 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 5125082 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2307125 |
Fruit(s) |
October |
James H. Miller |
| 5125075 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 5125076 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 5125077 |
Infestation |
|
Chris Evans |
| 5125078 |
Infestation |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2307126 |
Infestation |
October |
James H. Miller |
| 2307124 |
Infestation |
December |
James H. Miller |
| 5125083 |
Infestation |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2308051 |
Infestation |
|
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 5271003 |
Infestation |
|
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 5331035 |
Infestation |
|
Nancy Loewenstein |
| 5331036 |
Infestation |
|
Nancy Loewenstein |
| 5344052 |
Infestation |
|
Nancy Fraley |
| 5392019 |
Infestation |
Blanketing natives |
John M. Randall |
| 5392020 |
Infestation |
Climbing a tree |
John M. Randall |
| 5369548 |
Infestation |
2007; Several weeks after cutting. |
Arthur E. Miller |
| 5369543 |
Infestation |
during control efforts. Cut Oriental bittersweet vines wilt much slower than kudzu. |
Arthur E. Miller |
| 5369545 |
Infestation |
2007; Vines a few weeks after cutting. |
Arthur E. Miller |
| 9005081 |
Infestation |
vines in tree in October |
James H. Miller |
| 2105099 |
Infestation |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2105075 |
Infestation |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2105091 |
Infestation |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2105093 |
Infestation |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2106006 |
Infestation |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2106007 |
Infestation |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2106008 |
Infestation |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2106009 |
Infestation |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2106010 |
Infestation |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2106017 |
Infestation |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2106012 |
Infestation |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2118067 |
Infestation |
Climbing in multiflora bush |
Chris Evans |
| 0016102 |
Infestation |
fruiting infestation in winter with Dr. Harvey Holt, Purdue University |
James H. Miller |
| 0016097 |
Infestation |
Specimen with immature fruit in October. |
James H. Miller |
| 1509001 |
Infestation |
Oriental bittersweet; covering roadside trees; Asheville area |
Max Williamson |
| 1509002 |
Infestation |
Oriental bittersweet; covering edge trees; Asheville area |
Max Williamson |
| 1509003 |
Infestation |
Oriental bittersweet; growing over trees; Asheville area |
Max Williamson |
| 2105085 |
Infestation |
|
James R. Allison |
| 1509006 |
Infestation |
Oriental bittersweet; growing up tree bole; Asheville area |
Max Williamson |
| 0580069 |
|
vines climbing trees along woods edge |
Jil M. Swearingen |
| 0580077 |
|
|
Jil M. Swearingen |
| 0580078 |
|
|
Jil M. Swearingen |
| 0580079 |
|
in fruit |
Jil M. Swearingen |
| 1338011 |
Plant(s) |
Growing within a privet hedge. Indian Springs State Park, GA |
Chris Evans |
| 0016099 |
Plant(s) |
sprouts in August |
James H. Miller |
| 1400162 |
Plant(s) |
Backbone State Forest, Iowa. |
Linda Haugen |
| 1400163 |
Plant(s) |
Backbone State Forest, Iowa |
Linda Haugen |
| 1400164 |
Plant(s) |
North Carolina |
Linda Haugen |
| 0016240 |
Plant(s) |
|
James H. Miller |
| 2105070 |
Plant(s) |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2105071 |
Plant(s) |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2105072 |
Plant(s) |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2105073 |
Plant(s) |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2105087 |
Plant(s) |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2105088 |
Plant(s) |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2105090 |
Plant(s) |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2105082 |
Plant(s) |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2154018 |
Plant(s) |
|
Nancy Loewenstein |
| 2118072 |
Plant(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2118073 |
Plant(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2105094 |
Plant(s) |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2106005 |
Plant(s) |
|
James R. Allison |
| 2105092 |
Plant(s) |
|
James R. Allison |
| 9005082 |
Plant(s) |
young plant in May |
James H. Miller |
| 5369551 |
Plant(s) |
2007; Mixture of small Oriental bittersweet vines and other plants |
Arthur E. Miller |
| 5382196 |
Plant(s) |
potted plant |
Connie Gray |
| 1509014 |
Plant(s) |
Oriental bittersweet; vines; Asheville area |
Max Williamson |
| 5330030 |
Plant(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 5369521 |
Plant(s) |
|
Arthur E. Miller |
| 5369522 |
Plant(s) |
|
Arthur E. Miller |
| 5369523 |
Plant(s) |
Large vine along trail cut and brushed with herbicide. |
Arthur E. Miller |
| 5369524 |
Plant(s) |
Oriental bittersweet next to poison ivy vine on tree which was cut and brushed with herbicide |
Arthur E. Miller |
| 5369525 |
Plant(s) |
Dead vines which were cut and stumps treated |
Arthur E. Miller |
| 5369526 |
Plant(s) |
Cut vines in mixture of plants |
Arthur E. Miller |
| 5369527 |
Plant(s) |
Cut vines in mixture of plants |
Arthur E. Miller |
| 5369530 |
Plant(s) |
oriental bittersweet and other invasives before control
efforts |
Arthur E. Miller |
| 5369531 |
Plant(s) |
oriental bittersweet and other invasives on hillside before control efforts. Elderberry was saved |
Arthur E. Miller |
| 5271006 |
Seedling(s) |
|
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 1509008 |
Stem(s) |
Oriental bittersweet; vines; Asheville area |
Max Williamson |
| 1509009 |
Stem(s) |
Oriental bittersweet; vine wall; Asheville area |
Max Williamson |
| 1509010 |
Stem(s) |
Oriental bittersweet; vines on tree bole; Asheville area |
Max Williamson |
| 1509011 |
Stem(s) |
Oriental bittersweet; mass of vines; Asheville area |
Max Williamson |
| 1509012 |
Stem(s) |
Oriental bittersweet; vines; Asheville area |
Max Williamson |
| 1400161 |
Twig(s)/Shoot(s) |
Backbone State Forest, Iowa |
Linda Haugen |
