Weir Farm National Historic Site - Oriental Bittersweet

Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)is a woody vine with simple, alternate leaves and yellow fruits that split to reveal bright red seeds. The roots of this plant are bright orange and the leaves change from green to golden yellow in the fall.

Bittersweet is native to East Asia and is often used as an ornamental because of its red berries. This plant is easily spread by birds and has a high reproduction rate as well as the ability to send up shoots from its roots (known as root suckering). It is easily seen along the roadsides in CT and many other states.