Plant Portrait

Scientific Name:

Celastrus orbiculatus

Common Name:

Asian Bittersweet

Native/Alien:

Alien

Invasive Status:

Rank 1 (*)

Type:

Vine

Single Stem

tendril

Closeup of Stem

spur

Leaves

unripe berries

Notes:

Fast growing vine with lovely brilliant orange berries, dearly beloved of craftspeople for both the vines and the berries.

Let it get up your trees, and it will kill them, winding tightly around the trunk and branches, smothering all in its climb to the sun.

It hasn't the little "feet" of ivy, but little spurs that hook onto the roughness of tree bark and keep the vine from sliding down. Not thorns, they won't prick you, just little pointy nubs, just enough to hook onto a rough surface.

Links:

back to top
back to gallery
back to invasives