North Carolina Wildflowers, Vines, Shrubs, and Trees

by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Plant Page | Jeff's Nature Pages


Celastraceae > Celastrus (bittersweet)

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental Bittersweet) Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
Durham Co., NC
15 June 2009

Common in North Carolina statewide in disturbed areas such as forest edges and roadsides, this introduced species from Asia is a high-climbing vine and has become a serious exotic invasive problem in some areas of the state.

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental Bittersweet) Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
Durham Co., NC
15 June 2009

The leaves are distinctively shaped, often quite round.

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental Bittersweet) Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
Durham Co., NC
15 June 2009

Leaves are alternate appear clustered on short branches.

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental Bittersweet) Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
Durham Co., NC
5 July 2010

Annotated habitat and distribution information listed above is from Radford, Ahles, & Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. UNC Press; and from personal observations and discussions with Will Cook, Harry LeGrand, and Bob Wilbur. Common names from personal experience and supplemented by the following resources USDA plants website, Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia, and NatureServe.


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Created on ... May 7, 2006 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com