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The Times of India
The Times of India
World
TOI World Desk

Around 1860, oriental bittersweet entered cultivation as an ornamental vine; by 1974, it had spread to 33 states and was smothering native plants

This plant, first grown as an ornamental, is now one of the most destructive invasive species in the eastern United States. Oriental bittersweet ( Celastrus orbiculatus ), a non-native plant species native to China, Japan, and Korea, was introduced because of its bright berries and vigorous growth. Horticulturists praised the vine for its appearance, and later it was also used for soil stabilisation and erosion control. However, it is now known for strangling trees and replacing natural vegetation because of its aggressive growth.

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