Bittersweet
"False Bittersweet" and "American Bittersweet", "Staff Vine"
Celastrus orbiculatus (orbiculata) // Celastrus scandens
Celastrus orbiculatus, before flowering
Celastrus scandens
Staff Vine C. scandens
False Bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculatus. Only with regular and hard pruning can these plants be kept on such a small trellis.
Celastrus orbiculatus, without pruning
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Autumn foliage and decorative fruit
Bittersweets are used for their vigorous growth habit, their yellow autumn colouring and decorative berries in winter.
Requirements
Sunny (full sun) to semi-shaded Position, may be grown in the shade, but will produce less flowers and fruit. Best in nutrient rich soil.
Growth and Leaves
Vigorous twiners with sturdy stem formation. Celastrus orbiculatus, from China with strong growth, broad oval, dentate or serrate and clearly acuminate leaves. Celastrus scandens from North America has oval, acuminate leaves with undulating margins. Foliage from May to October, yellow autumn colouring.
Flower and Fruit
Inconspicuous, pale-green flowers, mostly dioecious (male and female on separate plants). In order to get the decorative berries it is best to plant several specimens together. Bird food, decorative in vases.
Growth Support Systems
Solid, best rod-like growth supports, big old trees are suitable. Lightning conductors, downpipes and roof gutters etc are not to be reached, any growth supports are to have a distance of at least 1.5m from all such structures and to the roof gutters, to the side as well as to the top. Wire rope systems (see below) are suitable if the ropes are arranged parallel to each other as for the Wisteria. Heavy Duty Growth Support Systems
Pruning
Yearly winter prune to contain the vigorous growth.
American Bittersweet "Celastrus scandens" on wire ropes
False Bittersweet "Celastrus orbiculatus" on 3 vertical wire ropes
C. orbiculatus
Bittersweet on wire rope in winter
Bird food in winter
Celastrus scandens |
Celastrus orbiculatus |
Celastrus can be used to decorate a house corner, however it should not grow on a downpipe as shown here. |
