Asiatic Bittersweet

Bittersweet Identification

Asiatic Bittersweet is a woody, parasitic invasive that winds its way around living trees, constricting vegetation and often killing trees in their entirety. Bittersweet has alternate, rounded leaves that are 2-4’’ long, and small, clustered flowers that bloom in June and are replaced by berries in the late summer that mature in the early fall, remaining on the vine through the winter. Bittersweet reproduces by seeds, which are dispersed by birds and small mammals. Seeds are viable for up to one year, and root fragments can sometimes regenerate and sprout into new plants. Larger populations of Asiatic Bittersweet harbor ticks because they are not eaten by native animals, making them a perfect place for tick habitat.

Bittersweet Removal

Bittersweet is best eradicated by completely removing root systems from the ground, though this is often laborious and sometimes impossible, depending on how deeply-engrained root systems have become. Cutting the vines away from trees in early fall, and then immediately treating the exposed root and stem systems with herbicides to prevent future growth is another effective removal strategy. This process has greater impacts when done over multiple years.

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To learn more about Bittersweet identification and removal, visit this Maine.gov site.