Catbriar Smilax bona-nox
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Smilax bona-nox var. exauriculata
- Smilax bona-nox var. hastata
- Smilax bona-nox var. hederifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- SMY-laks BOH-nuh noks
- Description
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Saw greenbrier is a prickly flowering native vine in the Smilacaceae (smilax) family. It grows in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist soils though it tolerates a wide range of soils including dry and overly wet, sandy, to rocky to high organic content. This species often found in woodlands or disturbed areas and it can grown into the tops of tree canopies. Individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
It makes for an interesting houseplant.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It can be very weedy. It is resistant to many herbicides and it has a persistent woody rhizome which may make it difficult to manage. Consider planting a less problematic plant.
- 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:
- Smilax
- Species:
- bona-nox
- Family:
- Smilacaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native Americans used leaves as cigarette wrappers, roots to treat urinary infections and to make bread.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and Eastern U.S.A., Mexico
- Distribution:
- Delaware south to Florida, west to Kansas and Texas, north to Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and in parts of Bermuda, Mexico
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits are eaten by wood ducks, ruffed grouse, wild turkeys, fish crows, black bears, opossums, raccoons, squirrels, and songbirds. Deer browse the leaves. It also provides cover for birds and small animals.
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
- Edibility:
- Cooked roots can be ground into a powder and made into gelatine. Young shoots can be eaten raw or cooked.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Native Plant
- Vine
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Appendage:
- Prickles
- Tendrils
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- 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
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- One-seeded drupes are eaten by birds and help with dispersal. The fruits look like clusters of small grapes.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Insignificant
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Umbel
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Tepals
- Flower Description:
- Male and female flower on different plants appearing from March-June. Flowers are small and appear in the axils of leaves though are inconspicuous.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Variegated
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Deltoid
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The thick leaves often have a pair of lobes at the base and often have prickly margins. They are green, mottled with white.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Green
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Upper stems are smooth lower stems have prickles and are hairy.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heat
- Humidity
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
- Weedy
