American bittersweet is our Plant of the Week for the last week of September. This woody, native vine is a valuable plant for wildlife and for home decorators.
Bittersweet is native east of the Rocky Mountains, throughout the United States and Canada. It is not the fastest grower, putting on at a rate of 4 to 6 feet per year. https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CESC
The berries on this plant were called bittersweet by colonists for their resemblance to nightshade berries. They are usually dark to light orange in color, but can sometimes be yellow or almost red.
American bittersweet berries are important late-winter food sources for birds, who then “plant” the seeds for more vines. The vines are dioecious, meaning they have separate male and female plants. Most nurseries now sell both the male and female plant in the same container.
When planting this vine, be sure to have an extra strong trellis, as the vines are woody, and can be very heavy. A trellis made from sturdy timbers, lumber, or a strong metal would support the vines.
This vine will grow in full sun to part shade, and well-drained to heavy clay soils. I have not observed any major pests, just a few native insects feed on the leaves.
You can buy containers with both male and female vines from us at http://www.grimmsgardens.com/shop/. Or check out our garden store at 2991 Goldfinch Road, Hiawatha, KS or in Nebraska City, NE.
Happy Planting!
How can I tell the difference between native bittersweet and the non-native type. Does the native bittersweet strangle trees it climbs on?
Hi Melody, Oriental bittersweet (non-native) has yellow capsules while the American bittersweet has orange capsules. The capsules are the outer seed coats that fly open when the seeds are dry. Both species climb and strangle trees.
Thank you for your inquiry and comment.
Can I big up off shoots from the vine to transplant to other areas in my garden?
Hi Kelly, thank you for your question. One method of propagation which may be possible with any woody vine, and many shrubs, is layering. To do that, you take a piece of plant stem still growing and lay it over the ground or over soil in a low pot, and staple it to the ground or soil where you want roots to form. Lightly cover the spot with mulch or soil, and wait for the plant stem to root to the spot or in the container. Also, bittersweet is easy propagated by seed, though you would not be able to tell for a few years if you got a male or female plant from seed.
Thank you,
The Kansas Gardener
I’m planting the berries from a wild bittersweet
Plant ! How deep should it be planted?
You can plant them about 1 inch deep, just poke a hole with a dibbler or your finger and stick in, then cover with soil. The seeds can germinate at soil level, but burying them rotects them from birds and other wildlife.
Thank you,
The Kansas Gardener