Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb.

Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet

About plant names...

The bright red berries nestled in yellow husks on these vines are prized by many for making Thanksgiving decorations, but oriental bittersweet is a killer. Okay, maybe that sounds a little strong for a plant, but this plant grows very quickly, encircling, entwining, strangling, and shading even very large trees. Vines reach four inches in diameter, and produce enormous numbers of new plants. They are considered a dangerous invasive.

Identification: Though oriental bittersweet is not native to North America, the related species American bittersweet is. The native variety is well-behaved, and dwindling, even threatened, in part by people trying to eliminate the oriental variety. Hence it is important to protect the American variety and slow the spread of the oriental variety.

Both species have red berries, alternate leaves, and bright orange roots.

Online References:

Www.carolinanature.com

Illinois Wildflowers

About.com: Landscaping

The Plant Conservation Alliance’s Alien Plant Working Group Least Wanted List

Invasive.org, Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

EFloras

A great demonstration of how vines look for supports. The young vine traces out a circular path as it grows, until it comes in contact with a support. It bends at the point of contact, here forming a coil. · 10/11/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4½ × 7" (12 × 18 cm)

5/29/2010 · Maine Audubon Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, Falmouth, Maine
≈ 14 × 21" (34 × 52 cm)

11/6/2011 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 1¾ × 1¾" (4.7 × 4.6 cm)

8/28/2010 · Near Boat Ramp, East Falmouth, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 15 × 10" (39 × 26 cm)

11/17/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

5/29/2010 · Maine Audubon Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, Falmouth, Maine
≈ 24 × 16" (62 × 41 cm)

11/19/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm)

5/24/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 9 × 6" (22 × 14 cm)

As the tree grows, it envelops the surrounding bittersweet vine. · 4/8/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 21 × 31" (52 × 78 cm) ID is uncertain

9/24/2011 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm)

Celastrus orbiculatus description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 11 Oct 2021.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.

10/25/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Nashua, New Hamp­shire
≈ 15 × 10" (39 × 26 cm)

11/11/2008 · Acorn Trail, Great Brook State Park, Carlisle, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 18 × 27" (45 × 68 cm)

9/9/2010 · Pine Meadow Conservation Trust Land, Groton Harvard Road, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 2½ × 3" (7.1 × 7.7 cm)

11/11/2008 · Acorn Trail, Great Brook State Park, Carlisle, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 9 × 6" (23 × 15 cm)

The orange roots are distinctive. · 6/29/2011 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 9 × 6" (22 × 14 cm)

6/10/2016 · Monhegan Island, Maine

10/25/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Nashua, New Hamp­shire
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm)

5/2/2023 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

5/24/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4½ × 3" (11 × 7.9 cm)

11/17/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

2/20/2012 · Bancroft St., Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 31 × 46" (78 × 117 cm)

10/25/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Nashua, New Hamp­shire
≈ 17 × 12" (44 × 29 cm)

Range:

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