The non-native asian bittersweet looks very similar to our native american bittersweet (Celastrus scandens), and has the same growth pattern (a vine). However, the asian species tends to spread very quickly, displacing native plants. Unfortunately, it also hybridizes with our native species, making it difficult to identify the exact species.

Asian bittersweet looks similar to the native bittersweet. However, the flowers and fruits grow in the leaf axils, whereas on the native bittersweet, they form a terminal cluster.

At the FWG, we have a few native bittersweet vines growing, but they are nowhere near as rampant as the invasive bittersweet, which is the more common one on our site. We have removed several huge swathes of this plant, but it is not easy to eradicate. Check out this link for more information: http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien./fact/ceor1.htm