lkzia... unique name by the way took me 6 times to spell it right LOL :) I think you might have answered your own question.. You said "They really aren't around this area" "Only the toughest trees survive here" Your right they cant survive where they ain't even growing or EVEN AT for that matter LOL... think about it. And as far as being tough enough, well there isn't another tree on the planet that can survice a atomic bomb blast within 5 meters of where the bomb landed like this one did in Japan.... ITS TRUE go to DAVE'S GARDEN and type in tree of heaven and there is a link that documents It. Now tell me how many tress would survive that? LOL Im looking for some seeds of this tree, if ya got any and want to part with em let me know. I know how to make the tree very resistnat to round up.. simply apply it till it ALMOST dies then stops each time it should get stronger. LOL well at least Im thinking.

I have an infestation of Oriental bittersweet on my lot. Unfortunately the previous owner actually planted this stuff about 40 years ago because she liked the berries. I don't think she was the only lady in the neighborhood either. She also planted Norway Maples - that's a whole 'nother story! I take a multi-pronged approach to eradication of bittersweet - The seedlings are generally easy to pull up. A friend with chainsaw chops the large vines at the base and then I apply Brush-B-gone as quickly as possible. The vines are usually left in place to rot, unless it is a smaller tree where I can get to the vines and unwind them. I've rescued about a dozen Choke cherries and poplars from the strangling vines so far. There is a 25 foot x 25 foot patch of it growing in the back like a bramblepatch. It looks like this: In April, I burned piles of brush in the middle of this patch and burned about a 3rd of it. Another third I've started mowing down and will continuously mow until it's been depleted. Another 3rd will be burned next year. Hoping to cut as many vines as possible to minimize fruiting this fall. More burning of invasives planned for next year's burning season. It'll take years to get rid of the majority of this stuff!

Harvesting with the berries on is almost guaranteed to promote spreading. Instead, harvest prior to seed set and market the vines to basket makers.

I had some and it didn't stop at the trellis. In fact it didn't stop anywhere. I ended up with it coming up around the base of the trees, in the grass, up and around the gass meter and anyplace else the berries fell and germinated. I love it but it is too inveasive for my little plot of green space. It also started climbing in and around and through the shrubs. Penny