NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Celastrus scandens

Scientific Name:	Celastrus scandens
Genus:	Celastrus
Species Epithet:	scandens
Common Name:	American Bittersweet
Plant Type	Woody Vine
Life Cycle	Perennial
Plant Family	Celastraceae (Bittersweet Family)
Native/Alien:	NC Native
Invasive Status:	^(*Key)
Size:	12-36 ft.
Bloom Color(s):	White, Green
Light:	Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day
Soil Moisture:	Moist
Bloom Time:	May, June
Growing Area:	Mountains, Piedmont
Habitat Description:	Mesic forests.
Leaf Arrangement:	Alternate
Leaf Retention:	Deciduous
Leaf Type:	Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like
Leaf Form:	Simple
Life Cycle:	Perennial
Wildlife Value:	Has some wildlife value
Landscape Value:	Suitable for home landscapes
State Rank:	S?: Uncertain ^(*Key)
Global Rank:	G5 - Secure ^(*Key)
State Status:	E: Endangered ^(*Key)
Notes:	Vascular Plants of NC: "Appears to be in decline, likely being impacted by competition with, or hybridization with, the noxious invasive C. orbiculatus. This is a State Endangered species. (Do not be fooled into thinking that this is not a scarce plant in the state, as it has been recorded from about 25 counties; many of these are old records, and most of them contain only a very small population or two.)" NC Rank: S2?
Ripe fruit Washington County, RI Irene H. Stuckey
Links:	USDA PLANTS Database Record https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/plant_list.php https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/celastrus/scandens/ https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/celastrus-scandens/

• Permalink - (right click to save this page to your bookmarks)