As spring breathes new life into the forests and fields of the Chesapeake Bay region, one native plant quietly weaves its way into the heart of the landscape—and into the lives of the birds that depend on it. Meet American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens), a resilient, climbing native vine that’s more than just a pretty face in the spring woods.

Unlike its aggressive cousin, the invasive Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), American bittersweet is a native species that plays an essential role in supporting local biodiversity. While it’s better known for its brilliant orange-red berries in fall and winter, spring marks the start of its subtle but vital contributions to forest life.

In spring, bittersweet’s tiny greenish flowers attract pollinators—an often-overlooked boon to early-season bees. As the growing season progresses, these flowers give rise to clusters of fruit that will ripen by late summer and provide a rich food source for many of the region’s migratory and resident birds.

Birds That Benefit

Birds love bittersweet. The bright, fleshy berries of American bittersweet are especially valuable during fall and winter, but the vine’s thick growth habit also offers nesting and cover habitat throughout spring. Species such as:

  • Gray catbirds and northern cardinals, which often nest in dense shrubs or tangles of bittersweet,
  • Cedar waxwings, which flock to fruiting vines later in the year but rely on safe nesting sites in spring,
  • And wood thrushes, which benefit from the understory cover native vines provide during the breeding season.

By supporting bittersweet’s place in the native landscape, landowners help maintain a strong, interconnected web of habitat for these beloved birds.

Fun Facts: Bittersweet & Birds

  • Bird buffet: Bittersweet berries are high in fat, giving birds an energy-rich food source—especially critical for long-distance migrants.
  • Vine time: American bittersweet can climb up to 20 feet, often twisting around fences, trees, or shrubs in open woods and forest edges.
  • Nesting nooks: The vine’s dense growth provides excellent concealment from predators, making it a popular choice for nesting songbirds.
  • Bird-aided dispersal: Many birds that feast on bittersweet berries help spread its seeds across the landscape—continuing a native cycle of renewal.

As we celebrate the burst of life that spring brings to the Chesapeake Bay’s forests, let’s remember the quiet contributions of plants like American bittersweet—and the feathered friends it supports. Together, they paint a picture of resilience and beauty, one vine and one bird at a time.