Is American Bittersweet deer resistant?
Celastrus scandens
Plant typeVineHardinessZones 3–8LightPart shade
Mature height240–300 in
BloomSpring and SummerMaintenanceModerate
Native range39 US states
Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten
About American Bittersweet
Orange capsules split to show scarlet seeds, which is why it is cut for autumn arrangements. You need a male and a female vine for fruit, and be certain you are buying the native rather than the invasive Oriental species.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 5.5 to 7.5
- Drainage
- Average garden soil
- Water
- Low
- Spacing
- 71 to 118 in apart
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maintenance
- Moderate
Similar to American Bittersweet
Other vines with the same deer rating.
Where American Bittersweet grows
Hardy across most of these 50 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvanianative
- New Jerseynative
- New Yorknative
- Connecticutnative
- Massachusettsnative
- Virginianative
- Marylandnative
- Michigannative
- Wisconsinnative
- Ohionative
- Indiananative
- Illinoisnative
- Minnesotanative
- Missourinative
- North Carolinanative
- Tennesseenative
- Georgianative
- Texasnative
- Colorado
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshirenative
- Vermontnative
- Mainenative
- Rhode Islandnative
- Delawarenative
- West Virginianative
- Kentuckynative
- South Carolinanative
- Florida
- Alabamanative
- Mississippinative
- Louisiananative
- Arkansasnative
- Oklahomanative
- Kansasnative
- Nebraskanative
- Iowanative
- North Dakotanative
- South Dakotanative
- Montananative
- Wyomingnative
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbianative
Highlighted states are within its native range according to the USDA PLANTS database, where it is native to 39 US states in total.
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Every list American Bittersweet belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about American Bittersweet
- Is American Bittersweet deer resistant?
- American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) is rated Seldom Severely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.
- What hardiness zones does American Bittersweet grow in?
- American Bittersweet is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does American Bittersweet grow in shade?
- Yes. American Bittersweet tolerates part shade, which makes it one of the options for a shaded bed where deer also browse.
- How big does American Bittersweet get?
- Mature height is roughly 240–300 in. Growth rate is fast.
- Is American Bittersweet toxic to dogs or cats?
- Yes. The ASPCA lists American Bittersweet as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Site it away from where animals graze, or choose something else if you have a dog that chews.