Celastrus scandensIndiana Native
American Bittersweet

Family:

Celastraceae (Bittersweet Family) 13

Genus:

Celastrus (Bittersweet) 1

Plant Type:

Liana (Climbing Vine) 36

Growth Forms:

Climbing 23

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 3 221

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 792

Flower Notes:

White (Small yellowish-white flowers on 2-4" long terminal panicles, on new growth in spring)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Glossy green foliage in summer); Yellow (Fall foliage)

Stem Notes:

lenticels not very noticeable, brown to tan

Fruit Notes:

Orange (Orange to orange-red seeds inside yellow to yellow-orange 3-lobed capsules that persist through the winter)

Ultimate Height:

20-25 + feet

Ultimate Spread:

3-6 feet

Bloom Times:

Light Requirements:

Soil Water Requirements:

Medium 65

Soil Notes:

Tolerant of soil conditions (except wet)

Range:

United States, east of the Rocky Mountains

Maintenance:

Low 87

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Alternate leaves are ovate-oblong, 2-3" long and 1-2" wide, glossy, pointed, finely serrate, usually long acuminate. Fruits are usually terminal, whereas Celastrus orbiculatus fruits are generally axillary.

Ecological Functions:

Special Characteristics:

Fast Growth Rate 225

Indiana Native 152

Trellis/Post/Fence Climber 25

Additional Information

Sun to partial shade (best flowers in full sun), and tolerant of soil conditions (except wet). Tends to be invasive. Birds are fond of fruits. Tends toward dioeciousness. Female plants need a male pollinator to produce more abundant fruits. Can girdle trees it grows on. Euonymus scale and two-marked treehoppers can cause damage.