Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) is a climber that can grow 8m – 15m tall and 3m – 8m wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus).
This plant has several common names including: oriental bittersweet or staff vine.
This is a deciduous plant that takes 10-20 years to reach full maturity.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: oriental bittersweet, staff vine
Scientific name: Celastrus orbiculatus
Plant type: Climbers, Shrubs
Habit: Climbing
Height: 8m – 15m
Spread: 3m – 8m
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial shade
Soil: Chalk, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Well drained
Planting type: Wall-side Borders
Seasonal colors
| Season | Stem | Foliage | Flower | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
How to plant Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) – Dalgial, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Versatile and decorative, climbing plants can make great contributions to creative garden designs.
Their rambunctious branches complement other plants and adorn structures with flowers and foliage.
Climbers are often used as a backdrop for other plants or are grown on pergolas to provide shade and height for the garden.
You can also create focal points by interweaving them through trees, pyramids and pillars, or train them on a trellis to form partitions between different areas of the garden.
How to plant
In this section we will learn how to plant Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.
Soil
Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) is not a demanding plant regarding the type of soil and can grow in chalk, loam or sand.
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The chalky soil is pale and contains chunks of calcium-rich rock. It is a fertile and well-draining soil, almost always alkaline.
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The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.
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Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.
It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.
Regarding drainage, Celastrus orbiculatus likes to grow in well drained soil.
Sunlight
Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) is a plant that should be grown in full sun or partial shade positions.
Cultivation profiles – Growing Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) – A. Purcel, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
