Bittersweet Vines Make Stunning Fall Decorations
Posted on November 20th, 2008 by Sharon Sweeny in fall
Plant bittersweet for stunning fall displays.
Fall has an abundance of natural materials for seasonal decorating. Bittersweet vines, with their orange and scarlet berries, are a real knockout in fall seasonal displays.
Bittersweet vines make an even more stunning display in the fall landscape. Their brightly colored berries really “pop” next to their vivid yellow foliage. Bittersweet berries stay on the vines well into winter, providing visual interest and food for the birds. Unfortunately, bittersweet vines are rather uninspired looking during spring and summer.
The berry-covered vines we see every fall in seasonal displays and at florists are actually one of three different types of vines, all commonly called “bittersweet.”
The American or “false” bittersweet, is a native species. The Latin name is Celastrus scandens. The berries on this variety of bittersweet appear at the tips of the vines. Considered an endangered species, its habitat is being overrun by the invasive Oriental bittersweet.
Oriental bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculatus, is similar to American bittersweet in appearance and habitat. One difference is the berries on Oriental bittersweet grow all along the vines, rather that at the tips, like American bittersweet. Because of its vigorous growth habit, Oriental bittersweet is in some places considered an invasive species with restrictions on planting. Oriental bittersweet grows so vigorously that it chokes and ultimately kills any tree unfortunate enough to play “trellis” to it.
The third bittersweet, the “true” bittersweet, is actually in the Nightshade family, classified as Solanum dulcamara. This bittersweet was classified after the other two, so even though it is thought of as the “true” bittersweet, that name was already taken. True bittersweet produces berries that start out green, change to yellow, then orange, then scarlet. It is not unusual to find berries in all four colors on a single vine. It makes a stunning fall display.
Solanum dulcamara is the bittersweet that was used medicinally. The taste is reported to start out bitter, then finish with a sweet aftertaste, hence the name “bittersweet.” NOTE: All members of the Nightshade family are poisonous. Consult a knowledgeable professional before using any herb medicinally.
Bittersweet vines grow vigorously and require diligence to contain their growth habit. They will reward you in fall with a stunning display of the yellow-orange fruits that burst open to reveal the scarlet seed pod, set off by their vivid yellow foliage.
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