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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Thursday - February 05, 2015

From: Akron, OH
Region: Midwest
Topic: Planting, Vines
Title: Will Bittersweet climb on a streetlight pole?
Answered by: Guy Thompson

QUESTION:

Will Bittersweet climb on a streetlight pole, or does it need to be with a tree?

ANSWER:

Celastrus scandens (American bittersweet) climbs by wrapping tendrils around limbs or rough bark of trees in  nature.  It may climb on a streetlight pole if the pole has a rough surface, e.g., concrete, that it can fasten onto.  I would think that it would have trouble on a smooth surface of a metal pole.  Check some of the properties of Bittersweet on this web site.  Bittersweet plants can be purchased at this site.

 

From the Image Gallery


American bittersweet
Celastrus scandens

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