Bittersweet

"False Bittersweet" and "American Bittersweet", "Staff Vine"

Celastrus orbiculatus (orbiculata) // Celastrus scandens

 

 

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Climbing Plants - Summary

 

 

 

Celastrus orbiculatus, before flowering

 

Celastrus scandens

 

Staff Vine

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 of Celastrus

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

 

Espalier with Celastrus orbiculatus

C. orbiculatus

 

Bittersweet on wire rope in winter

 

Bird food in winter

 

 

 

Celastrus scandens

Celastrus scandens

 

sculpture with Bittersweet

Celastrus orbiculatus

 

Celastrus can be used to decorate a house corner, however it should not grow on a downpipe as shown here.

 

 

Suitable wire systems for Bittersweet

Please click on the graphic illustrations !

 

 

 

 

 

 = suitable

 

 = limited suitability

 

 = not suitable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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