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Moonshine Designs Nursery Located in Milan, Illinois 309-756-1967 Fax: 309-756-1058
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FIVE types of Bittersweet are listed on this page!
American, Chinese, Loesener, Asiatic, Evergreen
For growing information click on a culture link below:
American Bittersweet
Celastrus Scandens
Celastrus is derived from an ancient Greek name
Scandens refers to its climbing habit.
A must for crafts & great for the birds!
Native American Vine!
Celastrus scandens
Other common names.—False bittersweet, climbing bittersweet, shrubby bittersweet, fevertwig, fever-twitch, staff tree, climbing staff tree, staff vine, waxwork, Roxbury waxwork, yellowroot, climbing orange-root, Jacob's-ladder.
American bittersweet is a native woody and shrubby climber, growing over trees or fences. It has smooth thin leaves 2 to 4 inches long and about half as wide. The small greenish-white flowers are produced in June in short clusters. The fruit is a round, orange-yellow capsule which opens in autumn, disclosing the scarlet-colored seed pod. The seed capsules remain on the plant well into the cold season and provide food for birds in the winter. Fruits are eaten by songbirds, ruffed grouse, pheasants, bobwhite and squirrel. Old fruits are eaten as survival foods by many birds and animals in late winter. Fruits should NOT be eaten by humans. While not extremely toxic, they will "clean you out at both ends". Bunches of twisted branchlets, loaded with fruit, are very decorative and the plant is disappearing in many places because of the ruthless methods of market pickers. Our stock is not from the wild!! We have selected 'stock' plants which grow on site here and have chosen the best over the years for the most desirable characteristics.
Fall colors. Click for larger view.
Way back in the dark and mysterious past, many shepherds hung bittersweet around the necks of those sheep which were suspected to be under the evil eye. I don't think it is really necessary myself. Save this bit of lore for your next trivia game.
Often planted as an ornamental vine for the showy fruits. A good climber on trellises, arbors, porches. Fast growing. Decorative berries and twisted vines make interesting projects.
You will need both male and female plants to produce berries! 1 male can pollinate 4-5 female vines. MUST be planted within 30 feet of each other.
Light: Partial to full sun. Best fruit in full sun.
Soil Moisture: Dry to moist.
Soil pH: Acid to neutral.
Hardy to zone 4a and some say zone 3. I have seen Bittersweet growing wild in Sawyer County Wisconsin.
Click on above thumbnails for larger views
Makes great fall and winter decorations. Vines tend to twist around each other (see pic below) and may be used for wreaths and other craft projects!
Shipping: Rooted vines are sent via USPS Priority Mail or UPS ground
Seeds are sent via First Class US Mail , shipped in a padded envelope.
Prices for American Bittersweet: (Celastrus scandens )
(One male plant will pollinate up to five female plants)
SEED:
Pak of 25 seeds. Item Number: 78820
PLANTS:
Please read through the different choices carefully.
Plants: Seedlings. 2-6" tall. Grown in 3" pots. Sold in lots of ten for $12.00. Sex of plants are unknown since they are grown from seed and have not flowered. 78821 Shipped Bare root. Sold out. Next: Spring 2009
Plants: $7.95 ea. unsexed seedlings. 2 yr. old. 12-36" tall. Container grown; shipped bare to semi-bare root. Will fruit in the first or second year from planting. Will fruit in first year under excellent conditions. We suggest purchasing at least three to assure of a male-female mix. 2 yr. unsexed: Shipped semi-bare root. Item Number: 78822
Plants: 2 yr. field grown, unsexed. 12-24" tall. We suggest purchasing at least three to assure of a male-female mix. Sex of plants are unknown since they are grown from seed and have not flowered. Should bear in the second or third year. Shipped Bare root. 2 yr. Bare root
Item Name: American Bittersweet Field BR Unsexed Lot of 3 plants Item Number: 78823
Price: $10.95
2 Gallon pot size, Unsexed Plants: $19.95 each. Container grown 24"-48" tall, multi-branched, pruned, staked. Shipped semi-bare root.
Item Name: American Bittersweet 2 GAL SBR Unsexed
Item Number: 78824
Price: $19.95
Grown from sexed cuttings:
Male plant 1 gallon: Shipped semi-bare root (SBR)
Item Name: American Bittersweet 1 GAL SBR MALE
Item Number: 78825
Price: $10.95
ea. 2 or more @ $9.95 ea
Female plant 1 gallon: Shipped semi-bare root (SBR)
Item Name: American Bittersweet 1 GAL SBR FEMALE Item Number: 78826
SEXED PAIR: ONE MALE AND ONE FEMALE: Shipped semi-bare root (SBR)
Item Name: American Bittersweet vines SEXED PAIR Item Number: 78825/78826
Male plant 2 gallon Shipped semi-bare root (SBR)
Item
Name: American Bittersweet 2 GAL SBR MALE
Item Number: 78827
Price: $22.95
SOLD OUT UNTIL LATE 2008
Female plant 2 gallon Shipped semi-bare root (SBR) Item Number: 78828
Seedlings above Gallon size plants above
WHOLESALE LOTS:
Unsexed plants; 24-36" two years old. Branched.
10 for $60.00
Item Name: American Bittersweet 24-36" LOT of 10 Item Number: 78561-10
25 for $100.00
Item Name: American Bittersweet 24-36" LOT of 25 Item Number: 78561-25
100 for $225.00
Item Name: American Bittersweet 24-36" LOT of 100 Item Number: 78561-100
TAKING ORDERS NOW
Supply of plants is limited! Bittersweet has become very popular as a craft item, a screen, a landscaping accent, and as a ground cover. Order early! Credit card orders: We do not charge your card until ship date.
Advance orders should be confirmed by email so that we can check inventory to guarantee your shipment. Please do not use the shopping cart if you do not want to pay for advance orders now. Send us an email, reserving the size you want for later shipment. An email will be sent to you when payment is due. Wholesale advance orders require 20% down. Email us for details.
Late fall view of twisted vines.......Make great basket handles!!
2 gallon, staked plants
Natural distribution of American Bittersweet
Chinese Bittersweet
NOTE: This listing is provided as information ONLY!!
We strongly discourage you from growing this variety as it is VERY invasive!
Celastrus orbiculatus
NATIVE RANGE: Eastern Asia, Korea, China and Japan
DESCRIPTION: Oriental bittersweet is a deciduous, woody, perennial vine , which
sometimes occurs as a trailing shrub. Also known as round-leaved
bittersweet, stems of older plants sometimes grow to four inches in diameter.
Leaves of oriental bittersweet are glossy, rounded, finely toothed and arranged
alternately along the stem.
Clusters of small greenish flowers emerge from leaf axils, allowing each plant to produce large numbers of seed capsules.
Spring Summer Fall
At maturity, globular, green to yellow fruits split open to reveal red-orange, fleshy pods that contain the seeds. These showy fruits have made oriental bittersweet very popular for use in floral arrangements. The careless disposal of these has led to the spread of this very invasive strain.
This plant is easily confused with our native American bittersweet vine (Celastrus scandens). C. orbiculatus (Chinese or Oriental Bittersweet) is a climbing plant that can grow 40 feet or more in a tree and is capable of strangulation of that tree. The twining young shoots are equipped with a pair of small thorns (not the kind that will "stick" you, though.) at each bud and are covered with round-oval leaves.
In autumn, the seed pods split open to reveal bright red seeds against a yellow lining. C. scandens (American Bittersweet) is similar in this respect, except its seedpods are orange inside, and does not have the small thorns.
Identification by leaf appearance alone is not 100% reliable. Leaf size varies from plant to plant and also by climate and growing conditions. See the pictures below to note the difference.
NOTE: In MOST areas, this variety of Bittersweet is considered to be a noxious, invasive pest.
To destroy this vine, it is necessary to get All the roots as it will sprout up new shoots from missed root pieces. Be sure you have made positive identification so that you do not destroy the native American Bittersweet as it is close to being an endangered species.
Chinese Bittersweet: (Celastrus orbiculatus )
We have discontinued this strain due to it's invasive nature.
How to tell Chinese Bittersweet from American Bittersweet:
American Bittersweet leaves are at the left. Chinese Bittersweet on the right.
Click on the thumbnails for a larger view.
Loesener Bittersweet
Celastrus loeseneri or Celastrus rosthornianus
Also sometimes called "Asian Bittersweet" which is in error.
Similar to Celastrus scandens above but with much heavier berry production. Produces berries on both tips and along stems. Berries may "shatter" after cutting if left through too many freezes before harvest. Best to harvest as soon as capsules open up.
Very vigorous. Can reach 40' if not kept in bounds. Good for "grown-in-place" forms such as wreathes and basket handles. Also used as a ground cover, but may become invasive if not kept in check. Deer and rabbits will not bother this plant. Self pollinating, as a rule. Two or more plants will produce better berry set. This variety will produce better if plants are within 20 feet of each other.
Gallon size plants shipped bare root; 12-30" tall; un-sexed. . Supply very limited.
1 gallon Loesener Bittersweet
Item Name: Loesener Bittersweet 1 GAL SBR2 gallon Loesener Bittersweet 78832 $25.00 sold out
Angulatus Bittersweet
Also known as Chinese Staff Vine
Celastrus angulatus
Sometimes called "Asian Bittersweet" but is NOT the same as Chinese Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus). Similar to Loesener Bittersweet (Celastrus loeseneri ), but with berries that have a brighter vermillion coloring and tends to branch more. Has a habit more like a shrub than a vine.
Seeds available! Pak of 25: $2.50
Item Name: Angulatus Bittersweet Seed Pkt. Item Number: 78829
PLANTS:
Stock VERY limited.
18-24" Gallon size.
Item Name: Angulatus Bittersweet GAL SBR Item Number: 02081Evergreen Bittersweet
Euonymus Vegetus
Bigleaf Wintercreeper
Very shiny leaves!
Not a exactly a true Bittersweet, but it is part of the Celastrae family. However, it is quite versatile! Can be used as:
A shrub. Remains green all year long and its gaily colorful berries add charm and delight during the winter months. Plant among your needle evergreens, or as individual specimens.
A hedge. Excellent low evergreen hedge. Easily trimmed into formal shape or it may be left in a natural condition. Plant 12" apart.
A vine. Excellent for covering fences and trellises. Clings to masonry wall, grows 5-6'.
A ground cover. Perfect on banks to replace grass and prevent erosion. Rapid
grower!
Height: 6-8". Spread: Will eventually cover 15-20' square. Shape: Low, creeping.
Foliage: Large, deep green. Fall Foliage: Orange seed capsules appear in Autumn.
Hardiness Zone: 4-10. A vigorous, vining euonymus that is primarily used as a
ground cover in sunny or shaded areas.
Not recommended for dried decoration
Shipped semi-bare root. $12.95 each. NOTE: These are cut back in the spring.
Item Name: Evergreen Bittersweet
Item Number: 78833
Price: $12.95
Typical gallon size plant
Milan, IL 61264
309-756-1967
Fax: 309-756-1058
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