American Bittersweet

Focus-stacked American Bittersweet fruit beside thick twisting vines and interwoven gray branches.

Autumn Capsules and Twisting Vines
Cluster of American Bittersweet fruit with orange capsules curled around red arils against a softly blurred tangle of vines.

Bittersweet Capsules Opening
Cluster of orange American Bittersweet capsules framed by yellow leaves against a shadowed tree trunk.

The Bittersweet of Late-Summer
Orange American Bittersweet capsules hanging among pendant yellow leaves and surrounding green foliage.

First Signs of Autumn
High cluster of American Bittersweet fruit and yellowing leaves seen against green canopy and open blue sky.

At Summer’s Edge
Small cluster of American Bittersweet fruit framed by looping gray vines in soft November light.

Lanterns in the Tangle
Frost-coated empty American Bittersweet capsules hanging among pale, ice-edged branches.

After the Arils Are Gone
Wide view of American Bittersweet fruit scattered through a dense tangle of bare vines and branches.

November Thicket

Celastrus scandens

For identification, habitat, and natural-history details, see the Celastrus scandens species page in the Field Notes section. For additional photographs of the vine in its natural setting, see the American Bittersweet — Photographic Sequence page in the Field Notes section.

Focus-stacked American Bittersweet fruit beside thick twisting vines and interwoven gray branches.

Autumn Capsules & Twisting Vines
E21A7415-7418 • Size: 5857 x 3903

Cluster of American Bittersweet fruit with orange capsules curled around red arils against a softly blurred tangle of vines.

Bittersweet Capsules Opening
E21A7377 • Size: 5277 x 3518

Orange capsules of American Bittersweet with yellow leaves exposed from a tree shadow

The Bittersweet of Late-Summer
E22A9338 • Size: 5400 x 3600

Orange capsules of American Bittersweet with yellow leaves exposed from a tree shadow and branches.

First Signs of Autumn
E22A9341 • Size: 5800 x 3867

Orange capsules of American Bittersweet with yellow leaves exposed from a tree shadow and branches.

At Summer’s Edge
E22A9337 • Size: 5300 x 3533

Small cluster of American Bittersweet fruit framed by looping gray vines in soft November light.

Lanterns in the Tangle
E21A7386 • Size: 6720 x 4480

Wide view of American Bittersweet fruit scattered through a dense tangle of bare vines and branches.

November Thicket
E21A7383 • Size: 5077 x 3385

Frost-coated empty American Bittersweet capsules hanging among pale, ice-edged branches.

After the Arils Are Gone
D79A3117 • Size: 2700 x 1800