Oriental Bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus
May 20, 2015
Oriental BittersweetCelastrus orbiculatus
Oriental bittersweet
Woody vine that climbs other vegetation such trees and structures
Thrives in a wide range of habitats, light levels, and soil types
Grows to 66’ in length Introduced as an
ornamental
Reproduces by seed, rhizome, and stolon
Male and female plants Fruit production on
female plants Seed dispersal is
vectored by birds and other wildlife that eat the fruit containing seed.
Short-term seed viability
Biology
Urtica/Flickr creative commons
Human vectored dispersal
Highly invasive and damaging
Vines strangle trees, reduce light available for tree growth, and added vine weight can break trees
American bittersweet Celastrus scandens
Native congener Occur in same habitat Oriental bittersweet
outcompetes American bittersweet
Hybrids? Cultivars
Distinguishing bittersweets
American Oriental
Fruit capsule color
Fruit position
Oriental bittersweet distribution
EDDMapS. 2011. Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System. The University of Georgia - Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. Available online at http://www.eddmaps.org/; last accessed August 23, 2011.
Report infestations
Location information GPS coordinates preferred Note location for infestations on private
property without permission to access Digital photographs of the plant (whole
plant, leaf, flower, and stem) will aid identification
Call “Arrest the Pest” or 1-888-545-6684
Management
Outreach and education Mechanical and chemical control methods
Cut and remove vines and dig roots Cut stump herbicide treatment Foliar herbicide treatment Basal bark treatment
Contact Information
Monika Chandler, 651-201-6537
MN Dept. of Agriculture
http://www.mda.state.mn.us/en/plants/badplants/orientalbittersweet.aspx