| oriental bittersweet |
USDA PLANTS Symbol: CEOR7 USDA ARS GRIN: 9719 ITIS: 506068 NAPIS: PBAACBB |
| Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. | |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Celastrales: Celastraceae |
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| 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. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
- Weed of the Week - USDA Forest Service
- Invasive Plant Atlas of New England - University of Connecticut
- Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy
- Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas - Plant Conservation Alliance
- Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual - SE-EPPC
- Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas - National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests - USDA Forest Service
- Fact Sheet - Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Seedling(s); Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); James R. Allison, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; James R. Allison, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); vine closeup in October James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; on twining vine in October James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; October James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Close-up of staminate flowers Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); James R. Allison, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); mature fruit in July James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); James R. Allison, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); James R. Allison, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); Fruit in tree Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); James R. Allison, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; James R. Allison, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; James R. Allison, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Nancy Fraley, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Stem(s); Oriental bittersweet; vine wall; Asheville area Max Williamson, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
Taxonomic References:
- USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
Invasive Listing Sources:
- City of Ann Arbor Michigan Parks and Recreation
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 1994.
- Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group
- Delaware Natural Resources and Environmental Control, 2004
- Faith Campbell, 1998. Plants that Hog the Garden: Invasive Plants in the United States. Fine Gardening Online
- Hoffman, R. & K. Kearns, Eds. 1997. Wisconsin manual of control recommendations for ecologically invasive plants. Wisconsin Dept. Natural Resources, Bureau of Endangered Resources. Madison, Wisconsin. 102pp.
- Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society
- Invasive Plant Council of New York State
- Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007
- John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.
- Maryland Cooperative Extension Service. 2003. Invasive Plant Control in Maryland. Home and Garden Information Center, Home and Garden Mimeo HG88. 4 pp.
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 1994
- Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2005
- Missouri Department of Conservation,
- New Hampshire Invasive Species Committee. 2005. Guide to Invasive Upland Plant Species in New Hampshire. New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food Plant Industry Division and New Hampshire Invasive Species Committee.
- New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, 2004
- Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
- Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust, Pennsylvania.
- Rhode Island Natural History Society,
- Tatyana Livschultz, Pennsylvania survey of invasive plants,
- Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation,
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 1999.
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council Watch list A
- Connecticut Noxious Weeds
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council Category 1 Alert
- Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council Severe Threat
- Massachusetts Noxious Weeds
- North Carolina Noxious Weeds Class C
- New Hampshire Noxious Weeds
- South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council Watch A
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council Severe Threat
- Vermont Noxious Weeds
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