Invasives

Oriental Bittersweet is from China and Eastern Asia area. Bittersweet was brought to this country in the mid-1800s as an ornamental plant. It spreads because people cut the fruits for decorations and birds love to eat the fruit. Both of these are great contributors to the spreading of the plant. Ever since it was brought here the plant has been rampage choking many trees to death. Because of this the United States Department of Agriculture has deemed this plant an invasive. There is no way to completely control bittersweet and get rid of it, but with small portions you can pull it out of the ground as long as you get all the roots. A short term relief for tree canopies is to cut the bittersweet low to the ground so the parts of it strangling the top of the tree dies.