American Bittersweet
American bittersweet is native to the eastern two-thirds of the United States, where it is grown for its glossy green leaves and orange berries. It naturally grows as a low, spreading, vining shrub on the ground or over other plants.
Small, greenish-yellow flowers bloom in May and June, followed by attractive orange fruit, which hang on the plant from June through November. To form flowers and the resulting fruit, both male and female plants must be present. Bittersweet cannot cling to structures, so it must be supported if grown upward. It can also be planted to drape over walls, boulders, or slopes.
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American Bittersweet
American bittersweet is native to the eastern two-thirds of the United States, where it is grown for its glossy green leaves and orange berries. It naturally grows as a low, spreading, vining shrub on the ground or over other plants.
Small, greenish-yellow flowers bloom in May and June, followed by attractive orange fruit, which hang on the plant from June through November. To form flowers and the resulting fruit, both male and female plants must be present. Bittersweet cannot cling to structures, so it must be supported if grown upward. It can also be planted to drape over walls, boulders, or slopes.
Plant details
Botanic Name
Celastrus scandens
Pronunciation
see-LAS-trus SKAN-dens
Mature Height
5 to 20 ft.
Mature Spread
3 to 5 ft.
Water usage
Water Usage
One Droplet: Water twice per month or less, once established.
Two Droplets: Water about once per week, once established.
Three Droplets: Water about twice per week, once established.
Flower Color
greenish-white flowers become showy orange-red berries in fall
Bloom time
July
Colorado Native
No
Natural Habitat
eastern United States
Light Requirements
sun
Cold Hardiness
USDA zones 3-8
Elevation Limit
hardy to 7,000 ft.
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