Appearance

Appearance

Short spines remain where leaves join young stems.

Growth form

This deciduous woody vine twines through other plants.

Leaves

Leaves are about 1–2.4 in (3–6 cm) long, with fine pointed teeth along the edge.

Fruit

The small round fruits split open to expose seeds wrapped in orange-red tissue.

Look-alikes

oriental bittersweetCelastrus orbiculatus

Check a close photo of the twigs and leaves: this species has short spines where leaves join the stem and usually smaller leaves. Oriental bittersweet lacks those spines.

Why they get mixed up · Both are twining vines with showy split fruits.

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• woodland edges
• thickets

Range

Native to Korea, Japan, northern China, and the Russian Far East, this vine was brought into the United States for cultivation by the 1920s.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

NENot Evaluated·Not yet assessed