Question
Thank you -- it had occurred to me that this bittersweet may need a "mate" though I wonder -- as I don't believe my mother had more than one vine -- (she knew about pairing as she had two elderberry shrubs and we made jam for years -- I miss that jam!  My question:  since there was just one Bittersweet starter on the shelf at the nursery -- and upon reading about the plant on the package -- why is this necessary "pairing" not  mentioned?  My vine get plenty of sun and no, there have been no blossoms -- and so next year when I shop, or order -- how do I know which to order -- a male or a female since I don't know which I have?  This is a reason I have never bought a blueberry bush as they require a pair as well -- I find no clarrification in my books.  Your response will be much appreciated.-------------------------

Followup To

Question -
I asked this question before but I'm not sure how this works -- that "word verification" business -- I felt that my question didn't go through -- so forgive me if I repeat...I was thrilled to find a Bittersweet Vine in a nursery three years ago as it was a favorite of my mothers -- she had one over her front door thick with orange berries and mine looks marvelously green and healthy but with not a sign of a berry after all this time.  Can you explain?  Thanks.

Answer -
American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) - aka Bittersweet Vine among other things - is famous for its bright orange berries.  It's easy to see why your mother would love this plant.  And also why you would be so disappointed thus far.

To get to the berries stage, a plant has to bloom.  See any flowers this summer?

You would have seen them in late spring/early summer - May and June.  The right amount of light would be a prerequisite.  Is your plant getting enough light?  Is there shade over your front door, or wherever you are growing yours?  Because I don't think your mother's door was shaded, 'else she would not have been successful with the flowers and ensuing berries.

But what you probably have not considered, since you mention that you purchased 'a' vine three years ago - this is one of those plants that requires male and female specimens or you won't have berries.

Know how catalogs recommend you buy a male and female holly bush?

Same thing with Bittersweet.

See the Moonshine Designs website(www.djroger.com/bittersweet_culture.htm) for a little more detail about this important detail.

You can order additional plants from Moonshine and plant them this autumn.  Perfect timing.

And next summer, voila!

Mystery solved.  Thanks for writing!  

Answer
Annamay, I don't know what to say about your mother's gardening techniques - but I can refer you to Va. Coop Extension's Bittersweet web page (www.ext.vt.edu/departments/envirohort/factsheets/vines/ambtrswt.html) and you will read some very specific answers to your very specific questions.

One I quote here, from the section on "Problems": "Euonymus scale is occasionally a problem.  Rampant growth is a problem, especially if vine is allowed to climb on shrubs and trees.  It is difficult to find labeled male and female plants."

So you see you are not alone, many thousands of people have these questions and they need guidance.

Note the ratio male:female they recommend, 1:5.  The girl plants are the ones with the pretty berries.  Did I mention that last time?

What surprises me is that Va. says that the pH can go down to 3.7 - I would think you'd be able to dissolve nails in something that acidic, but what do I know?

These plants do not have to be growing right next to each other to cross pollinate - they can be 100 feet away and as long as you still have the bees going from point to point b you will get a pollinated girl out of a less attractive male plant tucked out of sight if you need to.

These are such stunning plants I am thinking I really ought to buy one.  I love the birds these berry bushes call over.