# Vines Native to Maine
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American Bittersweet
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One vine native to Maine is the American bittersweet vine (Celastrus scandens), which is a twining creeping plant, meaning it twists around objects in a clockwise pattern. The vine is a common decorative accent in architecture because it is easy to train. If permitted it can climb up trees or walls, and grow up to 20 feet long. The American bittersweet vine is recognizable by its dark green, oval-shapes leaves---which turn yellow in the autumn---and its golden colored berries.
Virgin's Bower
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Often used to beautify trellises and gazebos in Maine, the virgin's bower (Clematis virginiana) is a climbing vine that is known for its flower. The white fragrant flowers grow in clusters, have an almond-like scent and bloom in the early summer. The plant's bright green leaves are round and have an almost jagged, toothy perimeter. The vine is expansive and tenacious, growing up to 60 feet long. If it doesn't have a structure to grown on, virgin's bower will wind around itself and create a dense bush.
Bunchberry
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Known for its ground cover, the bunchberry vine (Cornus canadensis) forms a dense carpet of foliage. Spreading up to 15 feet, the vine has dark, shiny leaves that cluster together around a small white flower. In the summer, the vine bears small edible, bright red fruits, which resemble berries and have similar flavor to an apple. Though the creeping vine can be a grass substitute in landscaping, in commercial production it is often a weed that springs up among Maine's blueberry crops.
American Wintergreen
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Another vine that is used for its ability to cover grounds, the American wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) is an evergreen plant that can expand up to three feet. Its dark green leaves are small and oval-shaped, and when crushed release a mint fragrance oil. Blooming twice a year, the vine's small white flowers are visible in the early spring and fall. The vine also produces an edible red fruit in the early summer, which looks similar to small crab apples and also has a minty taste.
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