December 21, 2013
Oriental Bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculatus
The bright red berries of this high-climbing vine are a magnet in the winter for hungry birds such as robins, cedar waxwings, and mockingbirds; and for people who like to decorate with natural materials. Unfortunately, both the birds and the decorators contribute to the disastrous spread of this highly invasive non-native plant. The vines kill trees both by strangling them as they wrap themselves tightly around trunks and branches, and eventually their immense weight can pull down entire treetops. Oriental bittersweet is widespread at Fresh Pond Reservation. Sale of this plant is prohibited in Massachusetts.