Comments on: Oriental Bittersweet on Most Hated Plants List

By: Most Hated Plants | Ecosystem Gardening

Most Hated Plants | Ecosystem Gardening — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:35:25 +0000

[...] Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), a particularly noxious invader, but also used in holiday decorations by influential folks such as Martha Stewart because of its pretty berries and ability to be shaped into wreaths. [...]

By: Gardening

Gardening — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:11:41 +0000

What are the other plants included in this ‘hit list’? Curious to know.

By: Carole Brown

Carole Brown — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:06:55 +0000

Thanks, Brian, next week I think it’s time to look at California invasives. Aside from Hawii, California and Florida are the worst hit by invasives.

By: Brian Debasitis

Brian Debasitis — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:10:22 +0000

Where to start?

When I lived in Vermont, I did my best to tear down a stand of Oriental Bittersweet and some hybridized plants. I’ll also add my vote for Bishop Weed. A terrible plant that’s consuming entire hillsides in Vermont and elsewhere. A real pain to get rid of because it seeds heavily and spreads through rhizomes.

Now I live in California. So much to hate here.

Palm trees. Large invasive trees that provide little to the ecosystem.

Oleander. A highly poisonous and generally boring shrub that also provides little to the ecosystem.

Ivy. Invasive rat habitat. Combined with morning glory. These are the plants I’m constantly trying to keep out of our yard on the west coast.

By: Debra D'Alessandro

Debra D'Alessandro — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:02:49 +0000

Kudos to you CB, and to NPR, for spreading the word about this horrible vine. Anyone who has ever tried to eradicate it will NEVER want to look at it as holiday decoration!

Here’s my vote for most hated: Bishop Weed. An evil vine that has the tenacity to survive the most vigorous digging out of its roots. Sold as “vigorous ground cover” and planted along with English ivy all over our property long, long ago. Not sure if its native or not…but I sure do hate it on our front hillside garden, where I fear I am losing my battle with it!