Flora of the Southeastern United States

Celastrus scandens Linnaeus. Common name: American Bittersweet, Waxwork. Phenology: May-Jun; Aug-Sep. Habitat: Dry-mesic to mesic upland forests and woodlands, woodland and thicket margins, bluffs, riparian and bottomland forests, glade margins. Often on rich or somewhat alkaline soils. Distribution: QC west to MB and WY, south to w. SC, n. GA, AL, LA, and TX.

ID notes: See Leicht-Young et al. (2007) for more information on morphometrics used to identify this taxon with C. orbiculatus; hybrids may complicate these patterns.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Other Comments: This decline in this species' abundance throughout its widespread range is due likely in part to habitat changes, competition with C. orbiculatus and other non-native, invasive plant species, and specifically complications from unidirectional pollen flow with C. orbiculatus (as opposed to mere hybridization). See Zaya et al. (2015) for more information.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, FNA12, G, GrPl, Il, K4, Mi, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, Duncan (1969). Basionym: Celastrus scandens L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Celastrus scandens - FNA12

Show in key(s)

Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)

Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
• Great Plains: UPL
• Midwest: FACU
• Northcentral & Northeast: FACU

Heliophily ⓘ: 5