- Bittersweet will climb sunny trellises or other supports.trellis image by Christopher Dodge from Fotolia.com
Bittersweet is a vine that comes in two primary varieties--American bittersweet and Oriental or Asiatic bittersweet. Both green vines climb nearby trees and other supports. Bittersweet vines can be grown at home with relative ease by following some basic gardening tips. - American gardeners who want to grow bittersweet vine should choose to grow American bittersweet, because Oriental bittersweet is an invasive species, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Forest Service. Asiatic bittersweet looks different from American bittersweet because of its red clusters of two to three fruits. It spreads into sunny openings and smothers natural fields and meadows or prevents forest regeneration in previously logged areas, according to the USDA.
- According to the USDA, American bittersweet grows all over the eastern two-thirds of the United States except for Florida. It also grows across southeastern Canada and in the area surrounded by and including Texas, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Montana. The plant grows well in open areas in very rich soil or swamps and areas where the soil and other plants have been disturbed.
- Bittersweet seeds require specific temperatures to grow. The seeds need a temperature of around 41 degrees Fahrenheit for 90 days and then a temperature between 68 and 77 degrees F after planting until they grow.
- Bittersweet tends to grow best with lots of sunlight, because of its natural environment in open areas.
- Although bittersweet can grow along the ground, it also makes a great climbing plant, according to the USDA. Therefore, gardeners may want to provide a trellis or archway for bittersweet vines to climb. Supports have the additional benefit of reaching up above other plants and providing extra sunlight for the vine.
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