The Bittersweet Vine

The American bittersweet vine is a fast-growing deciduous plant. They are also a dioecious plant, which means there are male and female vines that must be near each other for the female vine to produce berries.

Identification

Bittersweets have 2-inch long, oval leaves and vines that grow by climbing up and around fences or other plants and trees. Most vines do not reach more than 15 feet off the ground. Female plants produce green flowers and yellow-orange capsules that open to reveal red berries in the fall.

Care

It is best to plant a bittersweet vine in an unused corner of your garden. If need be, train the vine to climb on a fence or trellis instead of other plants or trees. Pruning and mowing prevents the vine from spreading further than you want and keeps the plant healthy as well.

Considerations

The American bittersweet has a relative in the Oriental bittersweet. This plant is fast-growing and very aggressive and should be avoided as much as possible. It looks identical to the American bittersweet, except it grows its fruit at the base of the leaf instead of in clusters.

References

• Yardener: Caring for Bittersweet
• University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture: Bittersweet
• University of Illinois Extension: American Bittersweet