| Scientific Name: | Celastrus scandens |
| Common Name: | American bittersweet |
| Family Name: | Celastraceae |
| Origin: | Canada - central, Canada - eastern, U.S. - central, U.S. - northeast |
| Hardiness Zone: | Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C) |
| Plant Type: | Vine - deciduous |
| Mature Size: | 5 - 7m x 3 - 4m (height x width) |
| Habit: | Arching, Twiggy |
| Form: | Climbing |
| Texture: | Medium |
| Landscape Uses: | Attract birds, Fall interest, Mixed shrub border, Winter interest, Woodland margin |
| Exposure: | Full sun, Part sun/part shade |
| Soil or Media: | Alkaline, Well-drained |
| Leaves: | Simple, Alternate, Soft flexible, Pinnate venation, Glabrous, Lustrous, Elliptic, Ovate, Serrate |
| Flowers: | Raceme, Green-yellow, Jun |
| Fruit: | Capsule, (Accessory tissue), Orange, Yellow, Red, Sep-Oct, (Persistent) |
| 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. | |