Oriental Bittersweet
Oriental Bittersweet: The Beautiful, Vicious Tree-Killer You Need to Fight Now
Strangler, Ripper, Smotherer. That's the terrifying but fitting nickname for Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), and if you live in an area like Fairfax, you've seen its destruction firsthand. This non-native vine was once innocently planted for its beautiful, persistent red and yellow berries, perfect for wreaths. What a costly mistake that turned out to be! It is now one of the most common and aggressive tree-killing invaders in our forests.
Why is it Such a Menace?
This isn't just a weed; it's a tree executioner. The damage Oriental Bittersweet (also known as Asiatic Bittersweet) inflicts is brutal:
The Strangler: The vines wrap tightly around the host tree. As the vine grows thicker, it begins to girdle the tree, constricting the flow of nutrients and water until the tree dies.
The Smotherer: It relentlessly climbs to the very top of tall trees, creating a thick mat of leaves that smothers the canopy, stealing precious sunlight from the tree below.
The Ripper: Once it gets established, the sheer weight and tension of its thick, heavy vines can literally tear large branches limb from limb, weakening the tree structure until it eventually pulls the entire thing down.
Spotting the Enemy (The Time to Act is Now!)
Late fall and winter are actually the perfect time to spot this invasive killer. Why? Because the leaves of the Bittersweet turn a telltale bright yellow and hang on a little longer than other plants, dramatically calling attention to the vine as it climbs up the tree trunk. The signature red berries inside a yellow shell make identification simple.
Even without the berries, you can learn to recognize it year-round with a little practice:
Leaves: They are typically widest further from the stem, giving them an upside-down egg shape.
Older Stems: Look for thick, ropy vines that are off-white with black marks.
Younger Stems: These are dark brown with small bumps, but be careful—they can easily be mistaken for native shrubs you are trying to save!
Want to see what this destructive vine looks like up close?
How to Fight Back
Finding Oriental Bittersweet is the first step; removing it is the next. You have two options for dealing with an infestation:
1. Save the Tree (Immediate Action)
For a vine currently strangling a large tree, your immediate goal is to save the host.
Cut: Simply cut the vine completely in two places: near the ground and about waist-high. Everything above the cut will die and eventually fall off the tree.
WARNING: Do not try to pull the dead vine off the tree immediately—you could bring down a dead branch on your head!
2. Kill the Roots (Permanent Solution)
Cutting the vine is only a temporary fix, as the roots will quickly resprout. To prevent a comeback, you must treat the roots:
Pull by Hand: For small, young vines, you can manually pull out the entire root system. You will immediately notice they are a distinct, bright orange color.
Treat the Stump: For larger, established vines, the best method is to dab a concentrated herbicide directly onto the fresh-cut stump. This should be done immediately after cutting for best results, and is effective any time of year except the spring when the sap is rising.
This winter, as you walk your neighborhood or local trails, keep an eye out for those striking yellow leaves and thick, winding vines. By identifying and removing Oriental Bittersweet, you can help save our native trees from this aggressive invader!
