Texas Plant Information Database
Plant Information
Code: 119
Scientific Name: CELASTRUS SCANDENS
Common Name: AMERICAN BITTERSWEET
Erosion Index: GOOD
Erosion Index Value: 6.67
Wildlife Index: GOOD
Wildlife Index Value: 5.13
Ecological Distribution: EDWARDS PLATEAU, TRANS-PECOS
Topographic Tolerance: UPLAND
Elevation Tolerance: SEA LEVEL - 2000', 2000' - 4000'
Slope Tolerance: TOLERANT OVER WIDE SLOPE RANGE
Aspect Tolerance: TOLERANT ACROSS RANGE
Light Tolerance: TOLERANT TO FULL SUN, TOLERANT TO SUN-SHADE MIX
Wetland Regional Indicator: UNKNOWN
Physical Form: VINE
Habit: DECIDUOUS
Life Cycle: PERENNIAL
Seed Age: 1 TO 4 YEARS OLD
Seed Interval: 1 YEAR OR LESS
Growth: RAPID GROWTH, LONG-LIVED, COPPICES FREELY, DENSE FOLIAGE, DEEP ROOTED
Hardiness: DROUGHT TOLERANT
Vegetative Growth Period: MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT
Flowering Period: MAY, JUN
Fruiting Period: AUG, SEP
Soil Moisture: WITHSTANDS SHORT-DURATION SATURATION
Soil Texture: TOLERANT TO CLAYEY SOILS, TOLERANT TO LOAMY SOILS, TOLERANT TO SANDY SOILS, TOLERANT TO GRAVELLY OR ROCKY SOILS
Soil Fertility: TOLERANT OVER WIDE FERTILITY RANGE
Parent Material: TOLERANT OVER WIDE RANGE
Soil pH: HIGHLY ACIDIC, SLIGHTLY ACIDIC, NEUTRAL
Optimum pH: SLIGHTLY ACIDIC
Soil Depth: WIDE RANGE OF SOIL DEPTHS
Salinity: OBLIGATE TO NON-SALINE (FRESH) SOIL/WATER CONDITIONS
Short-term Biomass: LOW
Short-term Pest: NONE KNOWN
Long-term Biomass: MEDIUM
Long-term Pest: LOW
Dominance Characteristics: COMPONENT
Honeybee Relations: PRODUCE HONEY
Parasite Host Potential: NONE KNOWN
Food for Wildlife/Livestock: SMALL MAMMALS, LARGE MAMMALS, UPLAND GAME BIRDS, NONGAME BIRDS
Small Mammal Food: FAIR
Large Mammal Food: FAIR
Upland Game Birds Food: FAIR
Waterfowl Food: FAIR
Nongame Birds Food: FAIR
Small Mammal Cover: GOOD
Large Mammal Cover: FAIR
Upland Game Birds Cover: GOOD
Waterfowl Cover: FAIR
Nongame Birds Cover: EXCELLENT
Toxicity Potential: NONE KNOWN
Toxicity Season:
Effectiveness Period: SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM
Raindrop Impact: LOW
Erosion Hardiness: MEDIUM
Ease of Propagation: MEDIUM
Soil Binding: MEDIUM
Soil Enrichment Potential: LOW
Nitrogen Fixation Potential: LOW
Growth Inhibitor Production: UNKNOWN
Source Availability: COMMON LOCAL RETAIL NURSERY OR SEED OUTLET
Seed Germination Ratio: UNKNOWN
Reproduction: SEEDS, HORIZONTAL ROOTSTOCK
Seed Dispersal Success Potential: BIRDS, GRAVITY
Seed Establishment Success Potential: MEDIUM
Cuttings Establishment Success Potential: UNKNOWN
Transplanting Establishment Success Potential: MEDIUM
Establishment Time Interval: 1 TO 2 YEARS
Recommended Establishment: TRANSPLANTINGS
Relative Expense: MODERATELY EXPENSIVE
Notes:
Associated Species:
BLACK CHERRY
BLACK OAK
BLACKBERRY SPP.
BLACKJACK OAK
COMMON PERSIMMON
FRAGRANT SUMAC
GRAY (STIFFCORNEL) DOGWOOD
POST OAK
SASSAFRAS
SMOOTH SUMAC
References:
Boon, W. and H. Groe. 1990. Nature's heartland. Iowa State Univ. Press, Ames.
Hatch, S. L., K. N. Gandhi, and L. E. Brown. 1991. Checklist of the vascular plants of Texas. Texas Agric. Exp. Sta. MP-1655 College Station. 158 pp.
Hightshoe, G. L. 1988. Native trees, shrubs, and vines for urban and rural America. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., N.Y.
Spangler, R. L. and J. Ripperda, 1977. Landscape plants. Burgess Publ. Co.