Bittersweet is the name of two unrelated vinelike plants. One kind is American bittersweet, also called false bittersweet, and the other is European bittersweet, or woody nightshade. Both kinds of plants are climbers that grow in moist, wooded areas and along fences and roadsides.
American bittersweet climbs as high as 20 feet (6 meters). It has a woody stem, small greenish flowers, and oval leaves. Its seeds have a bright red covering and are enclosed in a yellow seedcase. After the leaves have withered in late autumn, the seedcases split open, producing fruit clusters of contrasting red and yellow. The contrasting colors give the plant an almost artificial appearance, resulting in its sometimes being called waxwork. People frequently use the fruit clusters in floral arrangements. American bittersweet grows wild from North and South Carolina to Quebec, westward to the Rocky Mountains.
European bittersweet seldom climbs more than 8 feet (2.4 meters) high. Its stem is woody only near the ground. This plant also has oval leaves. However, many of them have small, round lobes at their base. The flowers range from violet to pale blue, or, rarely, white. In late summer, the plant produces bright red berries. Both the berries and leaves are poisonous if eaten. European bittersweet is native to Europe and Asia. It was brought to North America and now grows wild throughout much of the northern United States.
