BlueBell Arboretum & Nursery

Mail order trees, shrubs, conifers and woody climbers

Description

In the wild, this twining climber with fantastic autumn colour is found growing up thickets of trees in lowland areas and mountains all over Japan and China. Celastrus orbiculatus has rich green foliage in spring and summer and is known for its butter-yellow autumn colours which highlight its golden seed heads and brilliant-scarlet fruits in autumn.

It is an excellent choice of climber for large gardens or woodland areas where it is quite capable of covering substantial trees (as shown in the photo climbing an established Birch tree in our arboretum) or old buildings when established.

Supplied Size: 2L containers (40 - 60 cm tall)

Features

• Common name: Oriental Bittersweet.
• Position: Full sun or partial shade.
• Soil: Any fertile soil.
• Hardiness: Hardy.
• Flowering Period: July to August
• Flower Colour: Green
• Rate of Growth: Vigorous.
• Habit: Large climbing plant which requires support as it will not self-cling.
• Height: up to 10 m (32 ft)
• Spread: up to 8 m (26 ft) if allowed to climb over other nearby trees
• Notes: Normally, group planting is recommended to produce fruit, but these are hermaphrodite plants and will fruit without partners!

Plant Video

The Celastrus orbiculatus in our woodland gardens (taken in mid October 2010).