What is a bittersweet vine?

Celastrus scandens, more commonly known as American bittersweet or simply bittersweet, is a woody vine that grows on and around trees and other plants. It is often found in woods or along river banks.

Bittersweet vine is used in landscaping because of its colors. Its green leaves change to yellow in the fall, and its fruit changes from green to yellow and then from orange to red. It attracts small insects and wildlife that use it for food and shelter, but it is poisonous to humans. Bittersweet can wrap itself so tightly around a plant that it kills it. This process is called girdling, and it can be remedied by trimming the vine.