Bittersweet vines are popular this time of year
One of the loveliest of fall natural adornments is the colorful bittersweet vine.
It is often used for flower arrangements in the fall and into the winter and is so admired that imitation bittersweet vines are available in craft stores. The story of the vine is itself bittersweet.
American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) is a native plant in the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. There are at least two other plants called bittersweet, and they are both to be avoided.
The early colonists began to call the vine bittersweet because the berries resembled a European plant — Solanum dolcumara — that is part of the deadly nightshade family. The berries are toxic. The plant is native in Europe and Asia and grows easily elsewhere, including in the Great Lakes area.
The other bittersweet plant is the Oriental bittersweet — Celastrus orbiculatus — which may be sold in some nurseries if the purchaser does not fully check it out.
Oriental bittersweet has ripe berries similar to the American bittersweet, but they are strung out along the vine. The major objection to the oriental bittersweet is its invasive quality. It can invade wooded areas and completely strangle young saplings.
American bittersweet also grows vigorously, but it is not as invasive. The berries are orange and occur in clusters on the end of small branches. In the early days of the colonies, it was used as a medical treatment for venereal diseases, to induce vomiting and to treat symptoms of tuberculosis.
The berries may be toxic if consumed by humans, but birds, squirrels and other animals can eat them without harm.
If you want American bittersweet in your landscape, it is relatively easy to grow. Several nurseries supply the plants in the spring. The vine does need support to grow on, but it is not a good idea to use a tree since the vine twists around as it grows. A trellis or other support is recommended.
Site the vine in a space where it has plenty of room to grow because it can get to be 20 feet long and wide. It may be hard to find in the wild because so much has been cut for decoration.
American bittersweet is like holly and some other plants in that it requires male and female plants to produce fruit. Once the vine is established, if the fruit is sparse, a spring pruning may resuscitate the growth.
Because birds enjoy bittersweet, the seeds can be spread in that manner. If oriental bittersweet has been introduced, it too can be spread by the birds.
Burning the vine will only make it grow more vigorously. An herbicide such as Roundup, applied liberally, may be needed to really get rid of it.
Plants are available now from online nurseries and can be planted this fall like many perennials and shrubs. Follow the label instructions for care.
Submitted by Pat Smith, Licking County Master Gardener volunteer.