Asiatic Bittersweet


Asiatic Bittersweet

© Qwert1234
Introduction to the U.S:
  • Asiatic bittersweet is an invasive vine that is native to China, Japan, and Korea
  • It was brought into the United States in 1860
  • The vine was brought over as an ornamental plant
  • It is often cut in the fall to be used for decoration. However, this typically causes an increase in the spread of the invasive (Oriental bittersweet - michigan State University)
© Andrew Sparks

How it spreads/invades:

  • Asiatic bittersweet grows very rapidly and unchecked which allows it to quickly outcompete other species
  • The vine often wraps tightly around trees and shrubs, strangling them which prevents the flow of both water and nutrients throughout them
  • Since it climbs trees, the weight of bittersweet may also cause the collapse of trees and pull others along with it (Crandall Park Trees)

© Jay Cross
© Landman23

How to identify:

  • Bittersweet can be identified by its vines spiraling up trees
  • Its berries can also be used to identify the plant. Typically berries occur in groups of 1-3 and change color throughout the year. During the summer the berries are green, then orange/yellow in the fall. Later in the fall the fruit splits and is bright red. 
  • Asiatic bittersweet is also very similar in appearance to the less harmful American bittersweet. The two can be distinguished by the orientation of the berries. On the Asiatic bittersweet, the berries occur all along the stem while the berries on the American bittersweet occur only on the end of the stem (Crandall Park Trees)
How to remove:
  • Removal of bittersweet can be extremely difficult due to its ability to rapidly grow and spread
  • If a new invasion has started then digging up the plant and as many roots as possible may be effective along with the application of herbicides and cutting the ends of the plant
  • Cut vines must be treated with herbicide or they will likely regrow. Roots must be fully removed as well or the plant will quickly regrow. 
  • It is also important to take caution not to remove American bittersweet since its removal will give more space for Asiatic bittersweet to grow and spread (Crandall Park Trees)
Fun Facts:
  • Not only does Asiatic bittersweet spread rapidly on its own, but birds also disperse their berries causing the plant to invade other areas and spread further
  • The berries that grow on Asiatic bittersweet can be poisonous to humans
  • The roots are orange making identification quicker
  • Lone vines in the woods that don't produce berries may have grown from a single berry dropped by a bird (Invasive and exotic species - Boston)
Sources:

Crandall Park Trees. (n.d.). https://mdocs.skidmore.edu/crandallparktrees/invasives/oriental-bittersweet/ 

Invasive and exotic species - Boston. (n.d.). http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/Verrill_Wolf/pages/asiatic_bittersweet.html#:~:text=Asiatic%20bittersweet%20was%20introduced%20to,above%20ground%20stems%20and%20rhizomes. 

Mervosh, T. L., & Gumbart, D. (2015). Cutting and Herbicide Treatments for Control of Oriental Bittersweet, Pale Swallow-wort and Morrow’s Honeysuckle. Natural Areas Journal, 35(2), 256–265. https://www.jstor.org/stable/90008743

Oriental bittersweet - michigan State University. (n.d.). https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/invasive-species/OrientalBittersweetBCP.pdf 

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