ArborActive Tree Care Guide
How to Control Oriental Bittersweet in CT, MA & RI
By ArborActive Team · Updated
A woody vine spiraling around a trunk calls for a different plan from a seedling in a garden bed. The first priority is to stop live growth into the tree canopy.
Identify the plant
Celastrus orbiculatus. Look for rounded leaves and yellow fruit capsules that open to expose red seeds. Fruit is often scattered along the stem. Native American bittersweet usually bears its fruit at the tips, so use several features before cutting a vine.
University of Connecticut Extension identification and management guideChoose a control method
Start with the size of the patch, what you want to preserve and whether the site is near water.
Small patches
Pull seedlings when the soil is moist and remove as much root as practical. Sever accessible climbing stems at ground level to stop the canopy growth. Leave vines overhead to die in place when pulling them could dislodge branches.
Established infestations
Established roots can resprout after cutting. Repeated cutting can suppress regrowth. Where suitable, a qualified applicator may use a labeled cut-stump treatment or selectively treat accessible regrowth. A vine-loaded tree over a driveway or roof needs an assessment before overhead material is removed.
Keep it from coming back
Find stems that were missed and check the bases of cut vines for new shoots. Collect fruiting material as you work so birds and handling do not spread the seeds. Keep desirable shrubs that can occupy the opening.
Check local requirements
Before moving plant material, working near water or using an herbicide, check the rules for your property. Use only products labeled for the plant and site, and follow the label. Ask the local authority about disposal.
Connecticut invasive plant list
Check the current regional guidance before work.
Connecticut invasive plant listMassachusetts prohibited plant list
Check the current regional guidance before work.
Massachusetts prohibited plant listRhode Island invasive species resources
Check the current regional guidance before work.
Rhode Island invasive species resources
Common questions
Should I pull the dead vines out of the tree?
Leave overhead vines alone when pulling could break limbs or drop material onto people or property. An arborist can assess when and how removal makes sense.
Ask ArborActive about your property
Send your town, the approximate patch size and a photo of the suspected oriental bittersweet. Mention nearby water and plants you want to keep.