Pollinator plant

Asian bittersweet

Celastrus orbiculatus

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Common names

33 names · 20 languages
EnglishYour language
+7 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (19)
Dutch
French
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • jesenec okrouhlolistý[3]
Danish
  • Træmorder[3]
Estonian
  • ümaralehine tselaster[3]
Finnish
  • japaninkelasköynnös[3]
German
Japanese
  • ツルウメモドキ[3]
Korean
  • 노박덩굴[3]
Laadan
  • ríshoméenanethil[3]
Lithuanian
  • Apskritalapis smaugikas[3]
Polish
  • dławisz okrągłolistny[3]
Russian
  • Древогубец круглолистный[3]
  • Древогубец щётковидный[3]
Slovak
  • bršlenec kruhovitý[3]
Spanish
Swedish
  • japansk träddödare[3]
Ukrainian
  • Деревогубник круглолистий[3]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Celastrus orbiculatus — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Asian Bittersweet — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • Chinese Bittersweet — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • Oriental Bittersweet — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Celastrus orbiculatus.
[2] Celastrus orbiculatus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Asian bittersweet — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • Rundblättriger Baumwürger — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • Asiatic bittersweet — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • climbing spindleberry — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • Oriental bittersweet — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • Oriental staff vine — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • round leaf bittersweet — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • round-leaved bittersweet — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • roundleaf bittersweet — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • staff vine — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • celastro — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • bourreau des arbres — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • célastre asiatique — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • Aziatische boomwurger — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • boomwurger — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • Zuidoost-Aziatische boomwurger — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
[3] Celastrus orbiculatus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Asian bittersweet — results[10].names[3]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • Rundblättriger Baumwürger — results[10].names[24]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • Asiatic bittersweet — results[10].names[5]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • climbing spindleberry — results[10].names[7]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • Oriental bittersweet — results[10].names[31]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • Oriental staff vine — results[10].names[32]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • round leaf bittersweet — results[10].names[26]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • round-leaved bittersweet — results[10].names[29]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • roundleaf bittersweet — results[10].names[28]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • staff vine — results[10].names[10]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • celastro — results[10].names[12]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • bourreau des arbres — results[10].names[4]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • célastre asiatique — results[10].names[2]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • Aziatische boomwurger — results[10].names[20]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • boomwurger — results[10].names[19]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • Zuidoost-Aziatische boomwurger — results[10].names[25]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • 노박덩굴 — results[10].names[1]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • jesenec okrouhlolistý — results[10].names[8]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • ツルウメモドキ — results[10].names[9]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • 南蛇藤 — results[10].names[11]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • japaninkelasköynnös — results[10].names[13]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • Древогубец круглолистный — results[10].names[14]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • ümaralehine tselaster — results[10].names[15]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • Apskritalapis smaugikas — results[10].names[16]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • ríshoméenanethil — results[10].names[17]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • japansk träddödare — results[10].names[18]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • 南蛇藤 — results[10].names[21]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • dławisz okrągłolistny — results[10].names[22]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • Træmorder — results[10].names[23]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • Древогубец щётковидный — results[10].names[27]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • bršlenec kruhovitý — results[10].names[30]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
  • Деревогубник круглолистий — results[10].names[33]; taxon id 64540; Celastrus orbiculatus.
[4] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Celastrus orbiculatus ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Rundblättriger Baumwürger (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 151568; taxon S2YQ.
  • Oriental bittersweet (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 151567; taxon S2YQ.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Celastrus orbiculatus is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Celastraceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
9.14–18.29 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
1.52–3.05 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Climbing; Spreading

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Russian Far East to China and C. & S. Japan.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium
Plant profile

About this plant

Asian bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) is a climbing plant. It flowers from June to July.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Celastrus orbiculatus — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 5146022; ID S2YQ; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 5146022; ID S2YQ; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Celastrus orbiculatus — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering season
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Celastrus orbiculatus — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1340121; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1249536, 1249537, 1249538, 1249539, 1249540, 1249541, 1249542, 1249543, 1249544, 1249545, 1249546

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.