Invasive vines in eastern North America: ID and removal

Invasive vines are among the most damaging plants in eastern North American forests and suburban landscapes. Unlike invasive trees (which at least provide structure), invasive vines climb native vegetation and eventually suppress or kill it by blocking light, adding structural weight, and competing.

Invasive vines are among the most damaging plants in eastern North American forests and suburban landscapes. Unlike invasive trees (which at least provide structure), invasive vines climb native vegetation and eventually suppress or kill it by blocking light, adding structural weight, and competing for water and nutrients. Several species — kudzu, Oriental bittersweet, Japanese honeysuckle — are now causing landscape-scale damage across millions of acres.

Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)

ID features

Per Penn State Extension, Oriental bittersweet is the most damaging invasive vine in the eastern United States. It is distinguished from the native American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) by the fruit/capsule location: Oriental bittersweet produces fruits all along the stems (from leaf axils throughout the entire length of the branch). Native American bittersweet produces fruits only at the branch tips.

Leaves: Alternate, rounded to broadly oval, 2–4 inches, with finely toothed margins. Not distinctive by itself — many vines have similar leaves.

Bark: Young stems are smooth, reddish-brown; older stems are grayish-brown with a slightly corky texture.

Fruit: In late summer and fall, yellow-orange capsules split open to reveal red-orange berries. The contrasting yellow and red fruit is showy and was marketed for use in wreaths and floral arrangements, which contributed to its spread.

Damage mechanism: Per Penn State Extension, Oriental bittersweet twines around tree trunks and branches, girdling them as the vine's diameter increases. Trees of any size can be killed; small trees are killed faster. It also overloads crowns with its own weight, leading to storm breakage.

Management: Cut all stems at the base (wear gloves — the stems can cause skin irritation in some people). Apply glyphosate or triclopyr to fresh cut surfaces immediately. Per Penn State Extension, monitor and recut for 3+ years. Do not place cut vines with berries in compost — the seeds spread widely through bird droppings.