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Celastrus orbiculatus

Asian bittersweet

Celastraceae eastern Asia

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade – Full Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Celastrus orbiculatus is a deciduous woody vine native to eastern Asia that twines to 40-60 feet (12-18 m) into trees and over structures, with stems thickening to several inches across at the base. The rounded to oval leaves are 2-5 inches (5-12 cm) long with finely toothed edges and turn yellow in autumn. Small greenish flowers appear in the leaf axils in late spring, with male and female flowers usually on separate plants. Female vines produce clusters of green capsules along the stems that ripen yellow in autumn and split open to reveal fleshy scarlet-coated seeds. Birds eat the seeds and spread them widely, and the colorful fruiting stems are often cut for decoration, which scatters seed further. C. orbiculatus is regulated as invasive across much of the eastern United States, where it strangles and shades out trees and shrubs and pulls down weakened canopies by its weight. It tolerates shade, drought, and a broad range of soils, and resprouts strongly from roots after cutting.

Native Range

Celastrus orbiculatus is native to China, Japan, Korea, and eastern Russia. It was introduced to North America in the 1860s as an ornamental vine and for erosion control, and has since naturalized across much of the eastern and central United States.

Suggested Uses

Celastrus orbiculatus was once grown as an ornamental vine for its colorful autumn fruit and for erosion control, but those uses have ended across its invasive range. It now has no recommended landscape use in much of North America, where work focuses on removal. The fruiting stems are sometimes cut for wreaths and arrangements, a practice that spreads the seed.

How to Identify

Look for a twining woody vine with rounded, finely toothed leaves and flowers or fruit clustered along the stems in the leaf axils rather than only at the tips. In autumn the capsules ripen yellow and split to show scarlet-coated seeds. The axillary fruit clusters separate it from the native American bittersweet, which fruits mainly at the branch ends.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height40' - 60'

Width/Spread10' - 20'

Colors

Flower Colors

green

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

yellow

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Spring

Small greenish flowers open in late spring, usually May to June, in clusters where the leaves meet the stem. Male and female flowers generally grow on separate vines, so only female plants fruit. Yellow capsules ripen in autumn and split to expose red-coated seeds that persist into winter.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green, yellow in autumn

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Tolerates up to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay sand rocky

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Celastrus orbiculatus grows in full sun to shade on almost any soil and tolerates drought once established, needing no care to persist. It climbs by twining and can girdle and topple mature trees as its stems thicken. The vine spreads by bird-sown seed and by suckering roots, and resprouts vigorously after being cut. Because it is regulated as invasive across much of its introduced range, planting it is prohibited in many states. Control combines cutting with stump treatment and repeated removal of resprouts and seedlings over several years. Seeds on cut fruiting stems remain viable and can sprout from compost or discarded clippings.

Pruning

Cutting the stems without treating the stumps prompts dense resprouting from the roots. Where control is the goal, vines are cut near the ground and the stumps treated, with follow-up on resprouts and seedlings. The species is not pruned for ornament, as it is no longer grown in managed gardens across its invasive range.