1. Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
Celastraceae (Staff Tree Family)
Eastern Asia, Korea, China and Japan

2. Introduced 1860s as ornamental
Disturbed Areas
Woodland Edges
Coastal Areas
National Park Service
PCA Alien Plant Working Group

3. Woody Vine Growth Habit = Ecological Threat “Strangle Weed”
Climbs over vegetation (including canopy trees)
Causes vegetative death from overshading
Can cause uprooting /blow over by excessive weight
Outcompeting the native bittersweet, C. scandens

4. Prolific Seeding
Female (fruiting) and Male (non fruiting) plants

5. Alternate Leafing/Axillary Flower Buds
Small greenish flowers born on axillary (mostly leaf) clusters
Native Bittersweet (C. scandens) has Flowers on Terminal Buds

6. C. Orbiculatus Leaves nearly as wide as they are long
Alternate (Native Honeysuckles are opposite leaved)
Glossy and finely toothed margins

7. CONTROL Part I Treat as Woody Invasive
Cut Stem and treat with herbicide (triclopyr / glyphosate concentrate)
Before fruiting (seeds germinate late spring)
Winter work

8. CONTROL Part II Fall Applications of foliar spray (such as Garlon 3A)
Mini Cut Stump Treatment
AND/OR Cut down patches now, and come back in 30 days w. foliar app to resprouts
Timing and care to avoid native groundcover.

9. Native v. Invasive
Invasive C. orbiculatus
Flowers and Berries on leaf axils
Native C. scandens
Fruits and Flowers on Ends
Less Prolific Fruiting
C. scandens

10. Not a Good Thing
Scrambling, sprawling, bees, poison ivy, etc.
Be sure to do your follow up treatments or all that suffering goes to waste.
Rebecca Grill
Natural Areas Manger
Park District of Highland Park