Practical
Plants

Celastrus orbiculatus

Oriental Bittersweet

a deciduous member of the Celastrus genus in the family Celastraceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Foliage
deciduous
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
12 m
Spread
12 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves - cooked[2][6].

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The roots, stems and leaves are antiphlogistic, antirheumatic, depurative and tonic[5][11]. A decoction of the roots and stems is used internally whilst the crushed fresh leaves are used for external applications[5]. The plant is used in the treatment of paralysis, numbness of the four extremities, headache, toothache, spontaneous abscess formation and snake bites[5]. Many plants in this genus contain compounds of interest for their antitumour activity[11].

Product or use
Antiphlogistic
Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Depurative
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Used as a hedge[13].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
N.E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
Habitat
Thickets on grassy slopes in lowland and mountains all over Japan[13]. Forest edges in China[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - gather when ripe, store in dry sand and sow February in a warm greenhouse[14]. Three months cold stratification leads to a higher germination rate[4]. Remove the flesh of the fruit since this inhibits germination[4]. Germination rates are usually good[14]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[8]. Layering in August of the current seasons growth. Takes 12 months[14]. Root cuttings, 6mm thick 25mm long in December. Plant horizontally in pots in a frame[14].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a deep loamy soil[1] but succeeds in most soils so long as they are not too shallow[10]. Succeeds in full or partial shade[8]. Plants flower more freely if their top-growth is in the sun[7]. Requires a humus-rich soil if it is to be at its best[12]. A very ornamental plant[1], it is hardy to about -25°c[9]. A rampant climber, it requires ample space and is best grown into an old tree[1, 200. It climbs by means of twining and also by the young stems having prickles[7]. Plants do not normally require pruning[12]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[9]. Plants are usually dioecious, in which case male and female plants must be grown if seed is required, but hermaphrodite forms are in cultivation[3][7][9].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩

  4. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2

  5. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  7. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2

  9. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

    ↩

  11. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2

  12. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩1↩2

  13. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  14. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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