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Details
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 that 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.
Michigan Seeds and Plants grown on our farm, Renegade Acres, in Howell, MI!
Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth.
Additional Info
| Botanical Name | Celastrus scandens |
|---|---|
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Min. Time to Germinate | 30 Days |
| Max. Time to Germinate | 12 Months |
| Depth to Sow Seeds | 1/16 in. |
| When to Sow | Indoors 10-12 weeks before last spring frost, Indoors 3 months before last spring frost, Outdoors after all danger of spring frost is past, Outdoors in early spring, a month before the last spring frost |
| Growing Height | 20-30 ft. (6-9 m) |
| Plant Spacing | 4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m) |
| Hardiness | USDA Zone 4a: to -25F, USDA Zone 4b: to -20F, USDA Zone 5a: to -15F, USDA Zone 5b: to -10F, USDA Zone 6a: to -5F, USDA Zone 6b: to 0F, USDA Zone 7a: to 5F, USDA Zone 7b: to 10F, USDA Zone 8a: to 15F, USDA Zone 8b: to 20F |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sun, Sun to Partial Shade |
| Danger | All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested |
| Bloom Time | Late Summer/Early Fall, Mid-Summer |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Growth Habit | Vines & Climbers |
| Other Details | Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater |
| Soil pH Requirements | 5.1 to 5.5 (strongly acidic), 5.6 to 6.0 (acidic), 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) |
| Propagation Methods | From seed; direct sow after last frost, From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall, From seed; sow indoors before last frost, From seed; stratify if sowing indoors, From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse, From softwood cuttings |
| Seed Collecting | Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds, Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored, Remove fleshy coating on seeds before storing |
| Seeds Per Pack | 15 |
