American bittersweet

American bittersweet (celastrus scandens) climbing vine. A high-climbing or sprawling woody vine. Do not confuse with asiatic bittersweet (c. Orbiculatus), which is very invasive. Deciduous leaves are simple, ovate and dark-green; greenish-yellow in fall. Small, greenish flowers are followed by a showy, orange capsule that splits open to expose a red, poisonous, berry-like fruit. The fruit is held in drooping clusters. Tolerates alkaline soil. Sun to part-sun. Moist to dry soil. Zone 4 native