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The problem: You're looking for native plants to add to your landscape.
Why this vine: This attractive vine is colorful and native to North America, so you can plant it knowing you're not adding a nuisance to your landscape. American bittersweet's yellow capsule-like fruits open between mid-September and November to reveal stunning orange gems. Unlike rampant Oriental bittersweet (which has rounded leaves rather than the narrow, tapered leaves of the native species), American bittersweet is not invasive and is so rare in certain areas that it's a protected species.
What it needs: Give it a post to climb on in full sun or partial shade, as this vine grows rapidly and can kill shrubs or small trees by strangling branches and trunks. Prune in late winter or early spring to limit plant size.
Mature height: 20 to 30 feet
Climate: Found from the eastern seaboard to the Rockies; grows anyplace temperatures drop below freezing.
