Toni Leland
Autumn is the time when we look forward to cooler weather, changing leaves, and shorter days. But Connecticut gardeners don't look forward to the massive patches of alien plants that seem to cover everything at this time of the year.
One of the most obnoxious such plants is Oriental Bittersweet aka Celastrus orbiculatus. The problem with bittersweet is that it is quite beautiful with its bright orange berries that appear in late fall, beckoning the crafters to use it in dried flower arrangements and wreaths. Every one of these berries will grow a new plant! The berries fall off easily both during wind, bodily disturbance, rain, and being picked and carried to another location. Birds love them and help to spread this nasty vine.
Why is bittersweet so bad? Because the vine can strangle a young tree in one or two years, and left for years, the vines climb to the top of our beautiful old oaks, maples, walnuts, and evergreens, eventually smothering them or even bringing them down with the extra weight.
The berries make it easy to identify at this time of year, but this sneaky plant will quickly spread everywhere with small bright green leaves that might go unnoticed. As the vine grows it grabs everything in its path, blending in and daring you to see it.
Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to get rid of bittersweet because of the berries and the additional spread by underground roots. One way to distinguish the plant from others is by examining the roots, which will be bright orange.
Small invasions can be controlled with hand-pulling and diligence. Watch your trees carefully and remove any vines you find. For large areas of this plant, some chemical control may be needed along with the hand maintenance. Always read and follow the directions on the label of any chemical you use, and be sure to only use those recommended for a specific problem.
