Bittersweet: A Petition

To whom it may concern: this is a petition to change the common name of the plant bittersweet, also known as Asian bittersweet, also known as Celastrus orbiculatus.

To wit, there is nothing sweet about bittersweet. It's an invasive species. It's poisonous. It's the little vine with the capacity to choke 100-foot trees. It's so hard to tell apart from its U.S. counterpart American bittersweet, people say American doesn't live here anymore, and anyway the two hybridize so readily (Remember that?), we can't even replant the non-insane version that's made in the USA.

Worst of all, bittersweet seeds are often distributed because people use the berry-bedecked vines for fall wreaths and arrangements, and then just throw them out. Waste plus the spread of invasive species, all for extraneous ornament! That, people, is awesome.

What, then, should we call bittersweet? I petition you, dear reader, to join me in renaming it. Maybe bitterbeast is more apt? How about bidet seat? Bad lunchmeat? I'd really like to just call it gone. Suggest names in the comments, and then call it gone in your garden.


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4 comments:

  1. HGIC November 12, 2009 6:53 AM

    One vote for Bitter Beast. That name says it all. Best pronounced with a sneering lip curl.

     
  2. Jeanne's Rides November 15, 2009 11:44 AM

    TreeKiller and ditto on the sneering lip curl.

     
  3. Sprout January 1, 2010 7:27 PM

    I agree with Bitter Beast! I've been trying to convince florists of its evil but to no avail. :-(

     
  4. Green City Gardeners January 14, 2010 6:01 AM

    Stella de horror? BARF!!!!!

    You can add Acer ginnala (Amur Maple) and Euonymous alata (Burning Bush) to the list. They suck the BIG one. Here in MN, they are invasive exotics and a pain in the patootsker.