Bittersweet in Backbone State Park

Oriental bittersweet is an invasive species native to China, Japan and Korea. It first made its appearance in the United States around 1860. Individuals often cut the fruit stems from the bittersweet to be used as a decoration. Unfortunately, this causes the bittersweet plant to spread. The vine thrives by wrapping around the trunks of trees which eventually constricts the nutrients causing the tree to slowly die.

Possible Guiding, Compelling and/or Anchoring Questions

• What is needed for a plant to survive? 
• What happens when a plant cannot distribute nutrients to its extremities? 
• Are invasive species bad? Why or why not? 
• What causes the invasive species to continually reproduce?

Classroom Suggestions

• Provide students with pictures of the species 
• Prior to the start of the lesson, hold a discussion about how to identify if a species is invasive or not. 
• Students can take a trip to the state park if they’re in the area or look at other places where bittersweet grows. 
• Students can discover other invasive species in their area. 
• Encourage students to use library books or online materials. 
• This phenomena may be used as an extension to a reading about plants.

Related Resources

Learn About Invasive Species Like Oriental Bittersweet: Backbone natives talk the viewers through the vine that has taken over the state park.
What Has Wandered Into Backbone State Park?: The groundskeepers speak on how they have tried to slow the spread with chemicals. Landowners struggle to revive and maintain the land.
Iowa DNR: Invasive Plants: This source by the DNR lists several other invasive plants that reside in Iowa.