Melinda's Garden Moment Radio Tips

Berry covered branches of bittersweet are common fall decorations. But many gardeners find their plants produce all leaves and no fruit.

You need at least one mature male for every five female bittersweet plants for pollination and fruit development to occur.  A close look at the small spring flowers will reveal the gender of the plants you are growing and which one needs to be added. The male blossoms have pin-like structures while the females have a swollen vase-like structure in the center.

Or consider adding the new First Editions® Autumn Revolution bittersweet to your landscape. It is self-pollinating so you only need one plant to yield the desirable fruit. The fruit on this bittersweet tends to be larger and more abundant. And give this vigorous vine a good sturdy support.

Avoid planting the invasive oriental bittersweet that is taking over many of our natural areas.

A bit more information:  Too much nitrogen fertilizer and insufficient sunlight can also prevent flowering.  Grow American bittersweet in full sun and avoid high nitrogen fast release fertilizers for best flowering results.