More and more Oriental Bittersweet vines (Celastrus orbiculatus) seem to be magically appearing in my woods. It’s not literally magic though. The female vines produce berries which birds and other berry eating animals dine on and then distribute the seeds far and wide.

And that is where the little seedlings appear. Far and wide, even where no other such vines exist. This seedling is exactly what I search for. The easiest way to stymie these vines. A simple task of pulling it up. I like to take along a trowel to ease it out of the soil.

As you pull it out of the ground, if you see bright orange roots — BINGO! You’ve got an Oriental Bittersweet seedling. That orange is what you want. Whether it is the root of a seedling or the root of a mature plant it will be orange. Be sure to leave the seedlings or other parts of the plant, to dry for a couple days, on a surface where it won’t take root again. Concrete, a tarp, in the trash. Don’t let it have another chance.

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Don’t be fooled. I’m referring to the plant as a vine, but it can appear to be a trailing shrub too. Trying very hard to fool us. Pale green, inconspicuous blooms arrive in May, and by July, green berries appear.

By October the yellow capsules that contain brilliant red berries are ready to open to join the leaves that are turning yellow for an autumn celebration.

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Oriental Bittersweet is an aggressive, rapidly growing vine that smothers out other plants quickly. It wraps around anything it can find, including itself. Hoping you don’t find any.