Oriental staff vine (Celastrus orbiculatus) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Oriental staff vine is an Asian woody vine that has become invasive across much of the eastern United States. Its yellow fruits split open in fall to reveal scarlet seed coverings, and dense vines can smother shrubs and damage trees. In the United States, it is usually called Oriental bittersweet or Asian bittersweet.

Appearance

Growth form: This woody vine can reach about 66 ft (20 m) and climbs by winding around trees and other supports.
Leaves: The alternate leaves vary from oblong to nearly round and have rounded teeth along the edges.
Flowers: Small greenish-yellow flowers grow in clusters at the in spring. Male and female flowers are on separate plants.
Fruit: Female vines bear round fruits that ripen in fall; yellow capsules open to show scarlet fleshy seed coverings.

Look-alikes

American bittersweetCelastrus scandens

American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) places its flowers and fruits in clusters at the tips of stems. Oriental bittersweet bears smaller clusters along the stem at the leaf axils; leaf shape alone is unreliable.

Why they get mixed upBoth are woody vines with yellow-to-orange capsules and red seed coverings.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: forest edges
roadsides
old fields
young forests
Range: It is native to Korea, China, and Japan and was introduced to the United States around 1860. It is now widespread in the Northeast and occurs through parts of the Great Lakes, Southeast, and neighboring regions.
Preferred conditions: It grows in sun or partial shade and readily occupies disturbed ground as well as woodland edges.
Flowering: Flowers May–Jun
Flowers May–Jun

Life cycle

Seed dispersal: Birds eat the fruit and carry the seeds to new places.

Growing it

Propagation: It also spreads from underground stems and can resprout after cutting.

Name and classification

About the name: It is also called round leaf bittersweet.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
Threats: Dense vines shade other plants, wrap tightly around trunks, and add enough weight to break trees, especially under snow and ice.

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: Fruiting stems were once widely used in wreaths and decorations in the United States, but discarded stems can spread viable seeds.
In Minnesota it is a prohibited , so transport, propagation, and sale are not allowed there.

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