Oriental bittersweet: Eradicate, Don’t Decorate
Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) is a climbing deciduous woody vine that thrives in disturbed habitats (e.g., roadsides, forest edges, riverbanks, etc.). This plant can grow rapidly, shading out and/or strangling native plants, including mature trees. In the fall and winter, after the leaves have fallen away from the bittersweet vines and the surrounding vegetation, the bright three-sectioned red-orange fruits and their yellow outer “husks” can draw your attention from quite a distance. As the capsules dry, they hinge open, revealing…