Scientific Name:
Celastrus scandens
Pronunciation:
suh-LASS-truss SKAN-dens
Common Name:
American bittersweet
Family Name:
Celastraceae
Plant Type:
Vine - deciduous
Key ID Features:
A sturdy perennial vine; stems twining on structures or other vegetation, yellowish-green to brown; leaves alternate, ovate-elliptic, most 8-10cm long x 4-6cm wide, serrate; berry-like capsules on female plants, orange, 10-14mm wide, split open to reveal 5 or more red seeds. Winter ID: orange-brown opened capsules, twining stems.
Habit:
Arching, Twiggy
Form:
Climbing
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
5 - 7m
Mature Spread:
3 - 4m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Canada - central, Canada - eastern, U.S. - central, U.S. - northeast
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Alkaline, Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Attract birds, Fall interest, Mixed shrub border, Woodland margin (Caution: poisonous parts)
Additional Info:
Google. Compare to oriental bittersweet.
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous, Lustrous
Colour in Fall:
Yellow
Shapes:
Elliptic, Ovate
Apices:
Acuminate, Caudate
Bases:
Attenuate
Margins:
Serrate
Inflorescence Type:
Raceme, Panicle-like
Flower Morphology:
Dioecious plant
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Rotate/stellate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Green-yellow
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Jun
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Orange, Yellow, Red (red seeds)
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Showy, Accessory tissue, Persistent, Enclosed in an aril (berry-like).
Bark or Stem Colour:
Grey, Yellow, Brown
Organ Modifications:
Twining stems
Propagation:
Seed, Softwood cuttings, Hardwood cuttings, Division - below ground parts
Pest Susceptibility:
(Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant)
