American Rattan Berchemia scandens
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ber-KEE-mee-ah SKAN-dens
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Supplejack is a woody vine of the Buckthorn family that is native to southeast and central USA. It can be found in a variety of areas from swampy to upland woodland growing on the ground or climbing high into trees. In NC it can be found mainly on the coastal plain. The tough stems have been used in wickerworks. Greenish-white flowers occur late spring into summer and are followed by blue fruits in the fall which are eaten by birds and small mammals.
This plant tolerates soils from wet to dry in sun to shade. It is best used in naturalized and woodland settings.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Berchemia
- Species:
- scandens
- Family:
- Rhamnaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Vines can be used for making wicker products. Used medicinally by native Americans.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SE and central. U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , FL , GA , IL , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , OK , SC , TN , TX , VA
- Fire Risk Rating:
- extreme flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- It's fruits are high in calcium and are eaten by songbirds, wild turkey, northern bobwhite, raccoon and gray squirrel.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heat, drought, and soil compaction tolerant.
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/4 inch fleshy, blue-black fruit, longer than wide and slightly flattened, mature in autumn. Fruit displays from August to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small greenish-white flowers bloom in open terminal clusters. Blooms from April to May.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 1 to 2 1/2 inches long oval leaves have prominent veins branching from the midrib and rounded or pointed tips. Margins are entire to slightly wavy.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Green
- Light Gray
- Bark Description:
- Mottled gray and green smooth bark
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Young stems are reddish and smooth. Mature to green-gray up to 1 inch in diameter. The main stem even larger.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
