Practical
Plants

Celastrus scandens

Climbing Bittersweet

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Foliage
deciduous
Height
8 m
Fertility
self sterile
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

The fruit is poisonous[13]. All parts of the plant are potentially toxic[13].

Edible uses

Bark and twigs - they must be cooked[1]. The thickish bark is sweet and palatable after boiling[9][5][6]. Another report says that it is the inner bark that is used, and that it is a starvation food, only used when other foods are in short supply[15]. Some caution is advised in the use of this plant since there are suggestions of toxicity.

Plant part
Stem

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.

Climbing bittersweet was employed medicinally by a number of native North American Indian tribes, though it is scarcely used in modern herbalism[15]. The root is diaphoretic, diuretic and emetic[13]. It is a folk remedy for chronic liver and skin ailments (including skin cancer), rheumatism, leucorrhoea, dysentery and suppressed menses[13]. A strong compound infusion, usually combined with raspberry leaf tea, has been used to reduce the pain of childbirth[15]. A poultice of the boiled root has been used to treat obstinate sores, skin eruptions etc[15]. Externally, the bark is used as an ointment on burns, scrapes and skin eruptions[13]. Extracts of the bark are thought to be cardioactive[13]. Many plants in this genus contain compounds of interest for their antitumour activity[11].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Cardiac
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Skin

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Quebec, south to North Carolina and New Mexico..
Habitat
Rich soils[14] in dense moist thickets, woods and along river banks[17][16].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 2+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - gather when ripe, store in dry sand and sow February in a warm greenhouse[18]. 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[18]. 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. Layering in August of the current seasons growth. Takes 12 months[18]. Root cuttings, 6mm thick 25mm long in December. Plant horizontally in pots in a frame[18].

Cultivation

Prefers a deep loamy soil[3]. Dislikes chalky soils[2]. Succeeds in full or partial shade[8]. Requires a humus-rich soil if it is to be at its best[12]. A rampant climber, it requires ample space and is best grown into an old tree. It climbs by means of twining and also by prickles on the young stems[7]. Plants do not normally require pruning[12]. The foliage of some wild plants is variegated[14]. There are some named forms, selected for their ornamental value[10]. A good bee plant[2]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[10]. Plants are usually dioecious, in which case male and female plants must be grown if seed is required[7]. This species seldom fruits freely in Britain[7].

References

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

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  2. International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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

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  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. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

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

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  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

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  9. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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

    ↩1↩2

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

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

    ↩1↩2

  13. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  14. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

    ↩1↩2

  15. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  16. Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-85613-067-2

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  17. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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