Celastrus orbiculatus
Oriental Bittersweet
Celastraceae
ExpandHabitat
- native to China and Japan
- hardy to zone 4
- Special Note: This species has demonstrated an invasive tendency in Connecticut, meaning it may escape from cultivation and naturalize in minimally managed areas. For more information, .
Habit and Form
- a twining vine
- deciduous
- variable size, limited only by what is grows on
- fast growing
- medium texture
Summer Foliage
- simple, deciduous leaves
- alternate leaf arrangement
- orbicular leaves
- 2" to 5" long
- serrated leaf margins
- rich green leaf color
Autumn Foliage
- yellow fall color
- very showy
Flowers
- not showy
Fruit
- dehiscent capsules
- yellow seed color
- red aril around seeds
- very showy
- mature in September
Bark
- tan stems
- prominent lenticels
Culture
- full sun
- tolerant of most conditions
- prefers a structure to grown on
Landscape Use
- bank cover
- for fruiting effect
- for fall color
Liabilities
- weedy
- invasive
- will go on or over anything
ID Features
- small flowers held in racemes
- yellow capsuled fruit with red aril
- alternate leaf arrangement
- orbicular leaf shape
- serrated leaf margins
- globose buds
- brown bark with prominent lenticels
- vigorous twinning vine, no hold fasts
Propagation
- by seed
Cultivars/Varieties
Occasionally, nurseries will sell sexed plants of C. orbiculatus. 'Diana' is one such female, fruiting cultivar.